Varadkar promises ‘control measures’ to prevent fraud of new Paternity Leave payment
The Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar has said the Government will do all it can to prevent fraud around the newly proposed Paternity Leave payment.
The Government is due to publish the bill tomorrow which will bring about 2 weeks' paid paternity leave for new fathers from September of this year.
The Tánaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has said she is confident the legislation will pass through the Seanad and Dáil over the next 4 weeks as it has support from all sides of the house.
Varadkar has said prevention measures for men who do not actually plan to take time off work will be put in place if the legislation is enacted.
“Well I suppose when it comes to any benefit fraud can occur and obviously we’ll put in control measures to avoid that,” said Varadkar.
“In reality, self-employed fathers always had the right to leave – because when your self-employed you can take leave whenever you want to. But they don’t, by and large, because of loss of earnings and loss of business.”
