(1) During a period of absence from work by an employee while on paternity leave, the employee shall be deemed to have been in the employment of the employer and, accordingly, while so absent the employee shall, subject to subsection (4) and section 21, be treated as if she or he had not been so absent; and such absence shall not affect any right related to the employee's employment (other than the employee's right to remuneration during such absence), whether conferred by statute, contract or otherwise.

(2) A period of absence from work whilst on paternity leave shall not be treated as part of any other leave (including sick leave, annual leave, additional maternity leave, subsection (1)(a) leave or subsection (1)(b) leave within the meaning of section 16 of the Act of 1994, adoptive leave or additional adoptive leave within the meaning of the Act of 1995) to which the employee concerned is entitled.

(3) Where an employee who is -

(a) on probation in his or her employment,

(b) undergoing training in relation to that employment, or