Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, too, support the Bill. Reducing the gender pay gap is one of the key priorities of gender policies both at EU level and here in Ireland. We must ensure businesses publish information relating to the remuneration of their employees by reference to gender in order that we can monitor this. These measures, which take into account the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on both employers and women, who have been hit particularly hard, will increase awareness about pay conditions within companies and give more tools to employers and workers to address this pay discrimination at work. This will address a number of factors contributing to the existing pay gap and is particularly relevant during the Covid-19 pandemic. Anyone doing any work deserves to be paid for that work at the same rate as anyone else doing the same work, regardless of gender. It is important that pay scales are transparent and that women can fight for what is their right when they are given knowledge that exposes unfairness. We need to make sure this information is as transparent as it can be. This is so important. I am delighted to support the Bill.

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