David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was involved a couple of years ago in establishing an organisation called Balance for Better Business, which encourages and supports gender equality in leadership roles and companies. I understand that initiative is now under the remit of the Department and I welcome that because that is the right place for it to be.

I invite the Tánaiste to say something about that, and his plans and hopes for it.

In the documentation on the equality budgeting objectives and performance indicators, the target for the number of female-led, high-potential start-ups last year was 22 and I think the outcome was 12. The target this year is also 22, although I am not sure what the outcome is. Perhaps the Tánaiste could comment on the equality budgeting objectives of his Department.

Allied to that is the gender pay gap, in which I know the Tánaiste has a particular interest. Earlier this year, I read reports that the gender pay gap is widening in Ireland. Where are we with that? Considerable work was done in the legislation on reporting the gender pay gap. That approach was effective in the UK. Another pay gap is emerging, namely, the ethnicity pay gap. I bring that to the Tánaiste's attention as it might need some focus.

I spoke about the Open Doors initiative. The reason for bringing that up is that the Department is extraordinarily good and well known for highlighting and working with people at the high end - entrepreneurs who are creating jobs, technology, business and so on - and that is the way it should be. I would like the Department to focus on the people who find it very hard to get jobs at the other end, for example, those who are disadvantaged, people with a background in the Traveller community, those with disabilities and so on. Across government, we should focus on those and support them to get jobs because it is heartwarming when it happens. I encourage the Department to help out there and focus on that because with a little bit of help, an awful lot can be achieved in that space.