Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Reilly. Like other speakers, I am fully supportive of this proposed legislation. As the Deputy has said, timing here is crucial. It is important that we are here today as all political parties that are fully supportive of ten days domestic violence paid leave. Deputy O'Reilly has said that she has had good responses from Ministers, which is crucial. We also have to look at timing.

The Deputy said that there is an accepted lack of workplace awareness around domestic violence. I think she is right. When she speaks about leaflets and getting the awareness campaign out there, will funding be needed for that? If so, we need to make sure that we get it. Has the Deputy looked at this?

In 2021, the Amber Women's Refuge conducted a research piece on the impact of domestic abuse on the workplace. Some 200 women and men who worked outside the home in Carlow and Kilkenny were surveyed. I have the findings and I will send them to Deputy O'Reilly. I wonder if she has contacted many refuges; I am sure she has done so locally. That is welcome, too. However, when we get this through, it will be important that we have a national campaign, particularly covering areas such as refuges, where they need more support. We see that with children as well. Supports for children are needed because they can be so much affected.

It is important that we get this into all workplaces. Does the Deputy see any obstacles in her way? She has mentioned a number of companies and that is welcome. We need to make sure that every woman who is in a domestic violence situation can access this, so that those ten days paid leave are given to her. Does Deputy O'Reilly see barriers? Does she see some companies taking it up and some not? We have to try to make sure that everyone takes it up.

I want to say "well done" and that I fully support this.