Charlie Flanagan

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said up to 60,000 people could benefit within a year from the scheme, which he hopes to roll out by the start of November.

The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Bill will be brought before the Seanad in the coming weeks, with the Government with passage through both Houses expected before 1 November 2019.

Mr Flanagan said: “Having a new baby is a magical time, but it can also be very challenging. We want to support parents and help give them more opportunities to spend time with their children.

“In both 2017 and 2018 almost 25,000 new fathers availed of the newly established two-week paid paternity leave scheme, and I would hope all new parents would avail of this new scheme once it is established.

“The first year of a child’s life is one of the most important in terms of the child building a relationship and a bond with both parents.”

Minister of state David Stanton added: “This legislation provides for two weeks’ paid parents leave, and it is intended that this leave will increase over time.

“This bill is a further demonstration of this Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring new parents can enjoy a proper work-life balance in the initial few months of their child’s life.”