Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

These are the harrowing words of a victim for whom domestic violence leave would have made a real difference.

I was assaulted at my place of work. He pulled me down a flight of stairs in front of a waiting room full of patients, told me he had a blade. He assaulted me in the car park but I managed to get away and call the gardaí. The following day, my boss called me into her office. She knew about the assault. She was upset that I had left the clinic unattended. She asked me if I wanted to take unpaid or annual leave for my absence from work. I told her that she could decide and shortly after, I handed in my notice. I was employed by a hospital with an emergency department, a social work department and access to meaningful intervention. Instead of being supported I was shamed.

We have to face up to the fact that we have a real problem with domestic and gender-based violence in Ireland and we must do everything we can to support the victims. When a person is subjected to domestic violence they are robbed of their dignity, confidence and sense of safety. The trauma seeps into every aspect of their lives, and that includes the victim's working life. Those who suffer domestic abuse are our colleagues and often our friends. Some carry the physical and emotional impact of the violence with them into the workplace. They do so because they fear losing out on badly-needed pay or do not want to run the risk of disruption to their careers. Many cannot face going to work, some because of physical injuries - the all-too-visible bruises, black eyes and cuts - others because of the deep mental scarring. As a result they lose income and face aspersions about their reliability. Others are painfully aware of and understandably sensitive to the stigma that comes with being abused and victimised, especially when it happens at home in the place they should feel safest.

No victim of domestic violence should have to face such pressures, make such decisions or feel that they have to go to work in the immediate aftermath of being assaulted. Victims need space. They need time. They need understanding so that they can seek medical treatment and psychological help and recover in any way they can from the violence they experience. Often, they need space and time to make arrangements to escape from the abusive and violent environment in which they find themselves to get away from the beatings and mental abuse. They should be provided with these supports without having to worry about work, loss of income or damage to their professional reputation.

The perpetrator of the violence should not be allowed to take any more from the victim. Nor should it be that a victim's only option is to take annual or unpaid leave. The last thing a victim of domestic violence needs is the stress of a phone call from their boss, a light pay cheque or even the prospect of losing their job. They also need privacy and confidentiality. Being pressured or coerced back into the workplace before they are ready only adds to the distress. God knows they have enough to worry about, process, deal with and overcome.

This Bill, which we first moved a year ago, entitles victims of domestic violence to ten days' paid leave. It is comprehensive and thorough legislation, prepared in consultation with the domestic violence sectors and providing protections for employers in line with those contained in paternity leave legislation. It is legislation which I am very pleased the Government is supporting. We wish to engage constructively with the Minister to deliver this vital support for the victims of domestic violence and I sincerely hope that this is what happens.

See this speech in context