Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Taoiseach a happy May Day. On International Workers' Day, I want to raise the issue of the promise in the programme for Government to tackle the gender pay gap. Sadly, as we once again debate Ireland's failure on women's health, will the Taoiseach advise the House on when the Government plans to progress its own legislation or accept and amend the Labour Party's Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017, which is in the Seanad? That Bill has passed Committee Stage in Seanad Éireann and is ready to move on to Report Stage. It could readily be enacted. There is no reason the Government cannot introduce its own amendments if it wants to improve the Bill. It really is time that we tackled the issue of the gap in pay between men and women. This would be a good day to signal the Government's intent in that regard.

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