152. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she has considered extending statutory paid paternity leave from the current entitlement of two weeks to at least eight weeks; if her Department has undertaken any assessment of the social, economic and family benefits associated with longer periods of paternity leave, including impacts on child development, maternal we…
Topics / Paternity Leave
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsPaternity Leave
71 questions from 27 TDs, between 20 May 2025 and 21 October 2026.
71
questions
71 written, 0 oral
27
TDs have asked
8
parties and groups
Independents counted together
3
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 0 |
| March 2025 | 0 |
| April 2025 | 0 |
| May 2025 | 1 |
| June 2025 | 2 |
| July 2025 | 6 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 1 |
| October 2025 | 1 |
| November 2025 | 2 |
| December 2025 | 0 |
| January 2026 | 0 |
| February 2026 | 4 |
| March 2026 | 5 |
| April 2026 | 9 |
| May 2026 | 2 |
| June 2026 | 5 |
| July 2026 | 8 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 23 |
| October 2026 | 2 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
-
14
-
8
-
5
-
4
-
4
-
4
-
3
-
3
Asked of
The questions
632. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to increase the statutory two week paternity leave. [71562/26]
160. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider the extension of paid paternity leave to eight weeks. [69150/26]
658. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has plans to extend statutory paid paternity leave beyond the current entitlement; and if any review or consultation will take place in relation to same. [68675/26]
675. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to increase paternity paid leave from two weeks to eight weeks. [68449/26]
781. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the way in which Ireland compares to other EU countries in terms of the level of paternity benefit available through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65632/26]
782. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the way in which Ireland compares to the UK in terms of the level of paternity benefit available through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65631/26]
783. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons who availed of paternity benefit for each of the years 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65629/26]
784. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if a costings analysis has been carried out on the increasing the level of paid paternity leave available in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65628/26]
785. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the way in which Ireland compares to other EU countries in terms of the level of paternity benefit available through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65677/26]
786. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the way in which Ireland compares to the UK in terms of the level of paternity benefit available through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65676/26]
787. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who availed of paternity benefit for each of the years 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65674/26]
788. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if a costings analysis has been done to increasing the level of paid paternity leave available in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65672/26]
1074. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the way in which Ireland compares to the UK in terms of the level of statutory paid paternity leave and other related supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65633/26]
1075. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the way in which Ireland compares to other EU countries in terms of the level of statutory paid paternity leave and other related supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65634/26]
1076. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding research carried out by her Department into the benefits of paternity leave. [65638/26]
1077. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the merits of the proposals of a campaign (details supplied) that is seeking an increase in the level of paternity leave available to fathers in Ireland. [65637/26]
1078. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a campaign seeking a statutory increase in paid paternity leave in Ireland (details supplied); if she will consider facilitating a meeting with this group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65636/26]
1079. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the ongoing review into the merits of expanding the level of paid paternity leave available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65635/26]
1085. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to extend paid paternity leave, in light of the proven benefits of this leave. [65732/26]
1091. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has undertaken a comparative review of paternity leave entitlements available in Ireland and other EU Member States; the outcome of any such review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65791/26]
1092. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of extending paid paternity leave on child development, parental wellbeing, maternal recovery following childbirth and workforce participation; the findings of any such assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65790/26]
1093. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the research, analysis or reviews that have been undertaken by her Department within the past five years regarding the potential benefits of extending paid paternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65789/26]
1094. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she is currently considering proposals to increase the duration of statutory paid paternity leave beyond the current entitlement; if so, the changes under consideration and the timeframe for their implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65788/26]
1095. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has plans to extend statutory paid paternity leave beyond the current entitlement of two weeks; whether consideration is being given to increasing paid paternity leave to eight weeks; and whether any review, consultation, or comparative analysis of paternity leave arrangements in other EU member states has be…