Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for attending. The topic on everybody's mind is the IBEC issue. I commented on this yesterday. I take on board what Ms O'Hare has said in respect of the cost of business and the concerns with regard to implementing additional leave. Maybe that is where the ask should have been. I hear what she is saying in respect of how the issue was reported but she has not said what was inaccurate in the reporting. It seems that what was printed was what was asked for.

The proof issue has been dealt with by other members. We all accept it can be very difficult to prove coercive control and other aspects of domestic violence. I am not sure what the equivalent of a sick cert from one's general practitioner would be. There does not seem to be such a certification for domestic violence, so I do not think it will be workable to require some sort of proof in order to get that time off. Obviously, time can be of the essence in such situations.

I was particularly concerned by the request for the Government to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to weigh up the cost to employers as compared with the benefit to the employee of providing this leave. That is the wrong way to look at it, particularly in the current environment and given what we have been through as a country. In the past couple of years in particular there have been very high-profile cases involving violence against women and we are in a new era in terms of dealing with this. I hope IBEC has reflected on that. That is not discounting the fact that there has been a lot of change in terms of statutory sick leave and extra parental leave. There is a lot for businesses to deal with, so I accept that point, but I think the Government can assist with that financially and in terms of helping businesses to adapt. We all need to sing off the same hymn sheet, however, in terms of this being a necessary additional support for people going through that issue.

To move to Ms Lennon and WorkEqual, I was interested by its submission in respect of a quality assurance mark - I hope I have that term right - for employers considered to be promoting gender equality. I ask her to elaborate on that and how it might work. From where did the idea come? Did it come from businesses? How could we put it into play in the coming months or years?