Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I strongly disagree with the Deputy's comments on the priority that my Department has placed on this issue. She named a number of individual employers which are bringing in schemes. I absolutely welcome this and commend their work. However, we are looking at a scheme that will be statutorily applicable across all employers. That is a much bigger order of magnitude. It is important we put in the proper research and engagement with all relevant stakeholders to ensure we get the process right.

We have done this in a tight timeline while my Department is advancing gender equality in the workplace on a range of other fronts as well. We brought in the family leave Bill to increase parental leave. The Gender Pay Gap Information Bill was passed by the House two weeks ago and will be in the Seanad soon. We have committed to engage in research on the issue of leave for miscarriages, as well as the extension of breastfeeding leave. Significant work on a wide number of fronts is being undertaken in my Department in terms of protecting families and, most particularly, protecting women.

The introduction of paid domestic violence leave is a key part of that. We set out a tight time period for it and we are working to achieve the first element in terms of a report and a proposal for the Government. There will then be a four-month timeframe in bringing forward that legislation. I have engaged with the stakeholders. They understand what we are doing and see the Government's commitment to address this issue. I look forward in the near future to steering legislation on domestic violence leave through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

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