Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the report of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality. Dr. Catherine Day and the 99 assembly members should be commended on their work on and dedication to producing this report in the most challenging of circumstances. Their work may have come to an end but this report marks the beginning, or in some areas the continuation, of our efforts to set Ireland on a path to becoming a world leader in challenging gender-based discrimination in all of its forms. For many decades, Irish women have often been left behind in our society and this report provides a comprehensive pathway to ensuring that this never happens again.

The programme for Government is clear in its aim of supporting the principle of equality and ensuring that all citizens can achieve their full potential. I welcome the Minister's commitment to that this evening. The Minister will recall that I was in touch with him immediately following the publication of this report to suggest that the Oireachtas establish a special committee to examine these proposals in greater detail. I understand that the Oireachtas Business Committee has discussed this in recent weeks and that a referral has been made to the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform. I strongly urge the Minister to push these respective committees to issue a final decision on this proposal. The recommendations are ready to be presented and debated and there is not a further moment to lose.

I am sure the Minister will agree that Bunreacht na hÉireann is our fundamental law and a statement of our values as a society. In recent years, the Irish electorate has helped to bring it up to date with our changing values. However, to this day there remains a number of outdated and legally meaningless provisions within its pages. That is why the Citizens' Assembly has recommended three symbolically powerful changes to our Constitution.

Bunreacht na hÉireann does not seek to define the place of men and should not, therefore, seek to define the place of women. Our Constitution should never narrowly define our roles in society. In today's modern Ireland, both mothers and fathers carry out important family duties in the home, as do grandparents, siblings, carers and others. While many parents choose to stay at home to raise their families, we should not discriminate against working parents, working mothers in particular, who make an invaluable contribution to Irish society. Therefore, I would like to see the anachronistic articles consigned to history. They do not represent the values and lives of modern Irish women and families. Moreover, Article 41.2 remains out of date and legally meaningless. We know full well that there was never an economic rationale behind the marriage bar but 47 years after its abolition, it is ludicrous that the backward thinking of that bar remains enshrined in our Constitution.

I have said previously in this House that domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a scourge in our society. It is oppressive, abhorrent and inhumane. The Citizens' Assembly has submitted several interesting recommendations related to combating this pernicious evil. In particular, the assembly should be applauded for its call to develop guidelines and specialist training for judges and lawyers around the treatment of victims of abuse, including the exclusion of the consideration of sexual history, character and certain medical records from court cases. Women, or indeed anyone who is subjected to any form of abuse, should not be made to feel as though they are responsible for the harm that has been caused to them. Our criminal justice system needs to reflect our desire to support victims, not to punish them for no wrong of their own.

I mentioned that this report represents the continuation of some of our efforts to challenge gender-based discrimination. The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021, which was signed into law in July this year, requires certain companies to publish information pertaining to the difference between hourly pay and bonuses paid to men and women in their employ. Work is also at an advanced stage to introduce a pension enrolment system which will ensure that many employees will be enrolled into a quality-assured retirement savings system. In recent weeks, my Fine Gael colleague, Deputy Emer Higgins, introduced the Irish Corporate Governance (Gender Balance) Bill 2021, on which I commend her. The Bill will provide for corporate bodies to maintain a minimum of 40% gender balance on their respective boards and governing councils.

It is clear that work is being carried out by this Government to address the very many gaps that exist within our society. However, the pace of filling these gaps needs to hasten. After all, gender equality is the unfinished business of the 21st century and I intend to play my part in rewriting the rules when they perpetuate injustice.

Lastly, I raise what may seem a trivial matter. It is difficult sometimes as a woman coming into this Chamber if one is wearing a dress because it is absolutely freezing. I understand that there are Covid regulations involved but I have been saying this consistently every day and have spoken to my female colleagues about it. We do not wear suits as a general rule. We often wear dresses but it is absolutely freezing in here. I wanted to mention that since we are speaking about gender equality. I ask the Ceann Comhairle to take it into account. Perhaps he could discuss it with the ushers. Obviously, I know public safety is of paramount importance but I said I would mention it today.

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