Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Irish gender pay gap is 13.9% and it is estimated that at the current pace of change, it would take 55 years to close it. The gap is experienced most acutely by older women, women from ethnic minorities and women with disabilities. Pay transparency is an internationally recognised tool to help reduce pay gaps. It will ensure employees have access to the information necessary for them to be able to enforce their right to non-discriminatory pay. It will also help to shed light on informal pay systems and pay negotiations and variable wage practices such as bonuses, all of which contribute to wage gaps.

This legislation can and must be made stronger if it is do everything possible to close the gender pay gap. We know women are disproportionately represented in low-paid and precarious employment and spend fewer hours on average in paid work than men do. The specific provisions in Deputy Funchion's amendments to allow for a gender breakdown of full-time and part-time employees and those on flexible working hours will provide the type of detail needed to get a fuller picture of the issues. This will help to identify work practices and cultures that lead to women disproportionately holding other than full-time roles. I urge the Minister to accept the amendments.

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