Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Options in respect of leave under regulation 4

5.—(1) An employee may choose to take either one week’s leave or two consecutive weeks' leave in respect of a child under regulation 4.

(2) The leave may only be taken during the period which begins with the date on which the child is born and ends–

(a) except in the case referred to in sub-paragraph (b), 56 days after that date;

(b) in a case where the child is born before the first day of the expected week of its birth, 56 days after that day.

(3) Subject to paragraph (2) and, where applicable, paragraph (4), an employee may choose to begin his period of leave on–

(a) the date on which the child is born;

(b) the date falling such number of days after the date on which the child is born as the employee may specify in a notice under regulation 6, or

(c) a predetermined date, specified in a notice under that regulation, which is later than the first day of the expected week of the child’s birth.

(4) In a case where the leave is in respect of a child whose expected week of birth begins before 6th April 2003, an employee may choose to begin a period of leave only on a predetermined date, specified in a notice under regulation 6, which is at least 28 days after the date on which that notice is given.