Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis na Teachtaí McDonald agus Cullinane.

I commend the Labour Party and in particular Senator Bacik on bringing the Bill through the Seanad and into this House. We are very happy to support the Bill and we hope to see it pass as soon as possible. The fight to ensure pay equality is another step in the battle to ensure equality between women and men. Deputy O'Callaghan made reference to the distance travelled and it includes battles such as the fight to win universal suffrage - the vote essentially - a century ago; the fight against the marriage bar; in very recent times the fight to repeal the eighth amendment that caused so much harm and suffering to women over more than 30 years; and indeed now this fight for equal pay.

It is a relevant issue across the world, perhaps starker in other parts of the world than here. According to the World Economic Forum it would take 217 years to close the economic gender gap globally. However, it is also quite significant in Ireland. With a gap of 13.9% it would take 55 years to close the gender pay gap in this jurisdiction if we were to continue as things are. This is a mechanism that has been introduced in other jurisdictions. Britain has gender pay gap reporting and similar proposals have been implemented in other EU countries and in the United States. Measures similar to the ones proposed are due to be signed off in the North in the coming months. We welcome these moves. They are not a silver bullet, as I am sure the Bill's proposers would agree, and many other issues need to be addressed. It is right to shine a light particularly on those businesses that might be fearful of the Bill's provisions where there is a significant pay difference - inexplicable in many circumstances. It is a way to bring pressure to bear.

I am mystified at the Government's attitude. It is very common to see Government Bills where the Government introduces on Committee or Report Stage practically an entirely new Bill. It is unusual and very positive to see a Private Members' Bill pass through all stages in the Seanad and arrive into the Dáil. That is a sign of the support for it and the consensus not only in here but in society as a whole. The Government should work with that. The framework of the Bill is good enough and I do not know why the Government is starting with another Bill. It should work with this Bill and we should advance it.

I was pleased that a Sinn Féin amendment proposed in the Seanad was accepted. This ensures that where a company does not comply with the legislation by refusing to publish data, the company's title would be published by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. It is positive that that was accepted. Publicity will be as powerful as any fines in this. There is a role for fines, but the focus needs to be on shining a light and putting pressure on those companies that are discriminating.

Many other issues need to be addressed in tackling the gender pay gap. Reporting of this kind will not of itself address the overall gender pay gap. It will not capture large childcare providers which may not have a large gap between male and female employees, but the majority of them are likely to be female and the majority of them are likely to be low paid. Throughout society in low-paid work women predominate. Therefore, we need to take other steps to address that and ensure the playing field is levelled and people have greater flexibility with leave. I commend the Bills introduced by Deputy Lisa Chambers and Senator Clifford-Lee in that regard. Much more needs to be done on that and on the social welfare side as well.

Sinn Féin will support the Bill. There is a good framework here to deal with an issue that is important for society. The Minister of State should work with it rather than try to work in a different direction at the same time.

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