The Maternity and Adoption Leave (Curtailment of Statutory Rights to Leave) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015
These Regulations allow women entitled to ordinary maternity leave under Article 103 of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 and additional maternity leave under Article 105 of that Order (“statutory maternity leave”) to curtail that leave to enable them or their spouse, civil partner or partner (“partner”) to take shared parental leave provided for by Article 107E of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. They also allow persons who are entitled to ordinary adoption leave under Article 107A and additional adoption leave under Article 107B (“statutory adoption leave”) to curtail that leave to enable them or their partner to take shared parental leave provided for by Article 107G of that Order. The right to curtail statutory adoption leave extends to foster parents who, in accordance with established processes, have been identified as the prospective adopters of a particular child.