Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate on Deputy Funchion's amendment. I have seen in multiple organisations examples of two solicitors doing the same job in an in-house commercial firm where it was only by accident that the woman found out she was doing the exact same job on a different side of the business as the man for 25% less pay. I recall a similar situation in another professional services firm: two people doing the same job. He was doing it for €70,000 and she was doing it for €58,000. She was doing a much better job, and she knew it, but at least she knew about the pay gap and found ways to try to get around it. Part of the difficulty in being effective about redressing the gender pay gap is the culture of organisations, the lack of openness and transparency and the difficulty women face in trying to articulate the unfairness of doing the same job on a different pay scale without that then following them culturally through an organisation, particularly when there has been a history of that within the organisation. It is difficult for women in senior positions, including senior commercial positions, to try to articulate what is already a matter of law and just a matter of basic fairness. There is a reluctance to highlight it, even though they know they can and even though they know their organisations are liable in employment law. They still are reluctant to highlight it for fear of being seen as a nuisance or as being difficult and for that to follow them.

This legislation is really important, but it is about the follow-through and cultural change. It is not just about the reporting of any pay gap. It is about making it really serious that these cultural changes are necessary, making it easier for women who find this out and who are aware there is disparity, not only in pay but also in work. It is a matter of really being able to articulate that comfortably and as a matter of course within their organisations without fear of it following them around.

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