Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This legislation is an important addition to existing workplace rights. The provision of a statutory entitlement to paid leave is an acknowledgement by legislators of the challenges faced by workers when trying to escape an abusive relationship. If we are to end this epidemic of domestic abuse in Ireland, we need a whole-of-society response that both supports and protects women.

Sinn Féin's legislation provides for up to ten days of paid domestic violence-related leave. An employee does not have to provide proof of abuse or documentary evidence for the leave needed, as to do so would potentially act as a barrier to victims seeking the support they often desperately need. As with existing leave entitlements, the legislation enables an employer to refuse or terminate leave where he or she believes the employee is not using the leave for the specified purpose. In turn, the employee has recourse to the Workplace Relations Commission in such circumstances where the leave has been taken for the specified purpose but has been terminated or refused by the employer.

Research tells us that abusive partners often do not care a whit about the split between home and work. Stalking, persistent phone calls or threats in the workplace can often occur. Coercive control, now recognised under the Domestic Violence Act, can lead to abusers focusing their efforts on a partner’s workplace for the purpose of ending their employment.

Legislators and employers have a responsibility to respond to this avenue of abuse by putting in place the necessary workplace and employment rights and protections for victims. Sinn Féin will be engaging with all political parties in the coming weeks to seek their support for this legislation. We look forward very much to productive dialogue with all stakeholders to advance this much-needed entitlement.

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