Simon Harris advocates for paternity leave following birth of third child

Irish Tánaiste Simon Harris has emphasized the importance of paternity leave after the birth of his third child, Aoileann, on October 3. Harris, who also has two older children, described fatherhood as his ‘most important job’ and noted that fathers need to ‘step up’ to support mothers and spend precious time with their families.

Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin supported these sentiments, describing parental leave as ‘absolutely essential’ for society. Ó Ríordáin shared personal experiences regarding the challenges of parenthood, including his daughter spending 100 days in intensive care, to advocate for greater compassion for those facing professional and personal trials during pregnancy or early childhood.

Despite these high-profile endorsements, research from the ESRI indicates that paternity leave remains uncommon in Ireland. Data shows only half of Irish fathers take paternity leave, while only a quarter utilize Parent’s Leave. The ESRI identifies low rates of pay during leave as a significant deterrent to usage.