Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree. Support is absolutely essential. I experienced this personally when I was a workplace representative. Very often people in a domestic violence situation find the abuse is not confined to home. In fact, their workplace becomes a site of abuse. The Minister and I know this happens.

While I respect a consultation process is under way, the Minister must also respect that for a long number of years this issue has been on the agenda for Sinn Féin and others. However, there already has been a delay. It was agreed on 8 December, six months ago. That is now delayed and it will be another four months until there is legislation.

It would be useful and good for those who desperately need this legislation to believe that there is a sense of urgency coming from the Government. I genuinely do not feel there is, however. It feels like the Government is going back over old ground. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The proof is in the fact that State and private sector employers, along with workers and their representatives, are already moving ahead of the Government. We know there are international examples. There is no way the Irish Government will lead internationally on this. National University of Ireland Galway, NUIG, launched its policy yesterday, meaning such leave is now available to men and women working in the university. Danske Bank did the same, as have Vodafone and other private sector companies. Yesterday, the Minister's colleague indicated he would like to see more HEIs, higher education institutions, do it.

The Minister is consulting about an issue that we all know needs to be addressed. I have produced legislation to deal with it. The simple fact is everybody else is moving ahead. They could be forgiven for thinking there is no sense of urgency coming from the Government in this regard.

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