Families and Work: A Chance for Change - September 2014

Ireland is lagging behind Europe on Family Leave and compares poorly to other European countries on issues such as maternity leave, paternity leave and work life balance policies.

This briefing note on Family leave, jointly published by Start Strong, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI), shows how the upcoming Family Leave Bill, provides a a real chance for change in how Government policies can help families to balance work and family life.

Download the Family Leave Infographic

Background

On 25 September 2014, Start Strong, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the National Women's Council of Ireland joined forces to host a seminar on parental leave, paternity leave and the balancing of work and family life.

The three organisations drew together a range of perspectives in designing policy on family leave: children, mothers, fathers, and workers.

Read a short summary of the conference here.

Presentations and coverage

Peter Moss, Chair of International Network on Leave Policies and Research (INLPR), spoke at the conference. Read his OP ED for Irish Times here; and presentation here.

Remarks by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald at the seminar here.

Irish Examiner: Ireland lags behind EU on Family Leave here.

"Paid paternity leave added to draft law", Mary Regan, Irish Examiner here.

Discussion on Today Fm's Last Word here.

Minister backs paid leave for Fathers, Irish Times