Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. I am fully supportive of paid leave for employees who are victims of domestic violence. Over the last two years, during the pandemic, we have seen a significant increase, which has been an eye-opener. We have to be mindful that men, too, can be in that situation, as colleagues and I see. The witnesses spoke of many barriers, including rural transport, housing, counselling and support. We have a long way to go, but this is a good start. The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has started an examination of what supports exist. One relates to changes to the social protection rent supplement to help victims. It is a start, but we have a long way to go. Carlow has no refuge, which is a disaster. We have been working on it with the Minister, because every county needs a women's refuge.

We are lucky to have Amber in Kilkenny, which does great work. Amber recently produced research on the impact of domestic abuse on the workplace in 2021. Two hundred women and men who worked outside the home in Carlow and Kilkenny were surveyed. Some 21% had physical threats made against them by their abuser while at work. Some 46% said they are physically and emotionally unwell and exhausted as a result of the abuse. Some 66% said the abuse negatively impacted their work performance. Some 69% did not disclose the abuse to their employer, manager or co-workers, which is another concern. Some 12% of the respondents who made a disclosure of domestic abuse said their employer or manager was not that helpful. Some 52% of the respondents said they did not have personal experience of domestic abuse, but witnessed the effects of a colleague's domestic abuse while at work. It is crucial that we consider these staggering figures.

We spoke about a duty of care. It is hard for women in that position. People can be very private. We meet people every day and we might not even know that they are in such a situation. It is important to legislate to give women a chance to get this leave and I support it.

The conversation with employers has been mentioned. Do the witnesses feel there is a change in this regard? Has Covid led to a change? Over the years, things have been hidden and people may not have known how others were affected. Can we see that change in society? I compliment Vodafone on its policies. Its representatives constantly referred to its policies. Where did its excellent policies originate from? Did they arise from surveys of the company? Did it see other companies doing this? We need to consider policies and Vodafone's policies have been game-changing. I compliment Vodafone on that.

It is a worry that one in four women are impacted. I see it in my area where we have no refuge. The local authority closes at 5 p.m. on Friday and there are no supports on Saturday or Sunday. Where do people go? People stay in a situation because they have nowhere to go. There are so many issues. This is a good change. We have many more changes to make. I compliment all of the witnesses and I say well done. This will be so important. It is a start and we have many more changes to make. Many of my questions were already asked. The women got to them before me.