Dr. Helen Russell:

Moving quickly to collective bargaining, the citizens' assembly recommended the introduction of a legal right to collective bargaining. The evidence from comparative research is that countries with stronger collective bargaining systems have lower wage inequality overall and have lower gender pay gaps. This is an important step in the right direction. It is also consistent with Ireland’s commitment under a range of international agreements such as the European Social Charter and the International Convention of Economic Social and Cultural Rights, ICESCR.

To conclude that whirlwind, gender inequality in the labour market clearly involves many factors and we need to use multiple policy levers to address it. It also involves multiple actors such as Government, employers, unions and also change within families in terms of gender roles. That can be supported by policy. We need to look at these in the round and consider them alongside the recommendations around care and welfare because they all interact.