Updated to 18 February 2026 (Act No. 1 of 2026 and S.I. No. 54 of 2026)
All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.
Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016
No. 11 of 2016
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement/Effective Date Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| S. 1 | 1 August 2016 | Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 (Commencement) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 435 of 2016), art. 2(a) |
| S. 2(1) other than paragraph (b)(iii) of the definition of "relevant parent" | 1 August 2016 | Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 (Commencement) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 435 of 2016), art. 2(b) |
| S. 2(1) insofar as it relates to paragraph (b)(iii) of the definition of "relevant parent" | 1 July 2022 | Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 331 of 2022), art. 2 |
| S. 2(2)-(5) | 1 August 2016 | Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 (Commencement) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 435 of 2016), art. 2(b) |
| Ss. 3 - 5 | 1 August 2016 | Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 (Commencement) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 435 of 2016), art. 2(c) |
| Ss. 6-29 | 1 August 2016 | Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 (Commencement) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 435 of 2016), art. 2(d) |
| S. 30 | 3 August 2016 | Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 (Sections 30 and 31) (Commencement) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 434 of 2016), art. 2(a) |
| S. 31 insofar as it relates to the insertion in Part 2 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (26/2005), of Chapter 11A, other than paragraph (b)(ii)(III) of the definition of “relevant parent” in section 61A(1) of Chapter 11A | August 3 2016 | Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 (Sections 30 and 31) (Commencement) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 434 of 2016), art. 2(b) |
| S. 31 insofar as it relates to the insertion, in Part 2 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (26/2005) of Chapter 11A, ss. 61A(1)(b)(ii)(III) and 62B-E | 1 July 2022 | Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 (Section 31) (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 361 of 2022), art. 2 |
| Ss. 32- 37 | 1 August 2016 | Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 (Commencement) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 435 of 2016), art. 2(e) |
Amendments and other effects
| How Affected | Affecting Provision | Affecting Provision Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. 2 transfer of functions, construction of references | S.I. No. 436 of 2020, arts. 1(2), 2, 3, schedule 1 | 14 October 2020 | S.I. No. 436 of 2020, art. 1(2) |
| S. 2(1) amended | Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 (4/2021), ss. 1(2), 21 | 1 April 2021 | Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 148 of 2021), art. 2 |
| S. 6(1) amended | Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 (4/2021), ss. 1(2), 22 | 1 April 2021 | Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 148 of 2021), art. 2 |
| S. 7(3)(a)(ii) amended | Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 (4/2021), ss. 1(2), 23(a) | 1 April 2021 | Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 148 of 2021), art. 2 |
| S. 7(3)(b)(ii) amended | Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 (4/2021), ss. 1(2), 23(b) | 1 April 2021 | Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 148 of 2021), art. 2 |
| S. 7(4)(a) amended | Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 (4/2021), ss. 1(2), 23(c) | 1 April 2021 | Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 148 of 2021), art. 2 |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| None |