Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will begin my statement today by again acknowledging the bravery of the women of Ukraine, the women of Afghanistan and all the women who are experiencing conflict at this time. Women face particular challenges and hardships in times of conflict and it is important that any response to conflict and the displacement of people specifically and particularly acknowledges the needs of women and children. I know that everyone in this House is thinking today of the women facing impossible choices as they try to protect their families from war.

Anuraidh, ar Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan, labhraíomar faoi thionchar na paindéime ar mhná. I mbliana, táimid i riocht i bhfad níos fearr agus srianta á scaoileadh againn ach caithfimid fós a bheith aireach ar na torthaí fadtéarmacha a bheidh ag na freagraí ar an bpaindéim ar fhostaíocht ban agus ar dhualgais chúraim. Tugann an ghluaiseacht gan fasach i dtreo na cianoibre deis dúinn ráta rannpháirtíochta saothair na mban a mhéadú ach beidh gá le monatóireacht chúramach ionas nach bac eile a bheith ann do dhul chun cinn gairme na mban.

At this time last year, we were reflecting on the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions on women. Twelve months on, we are in a better place when it comes to the pandemic but now is the time to apply some of the lessons we have learned from that experience. For example, work-life balance should not be a choice between a successful career and a fulfilling family life. The pandemic has reminded us all of the value and benefits of time with family. Parents should be able to feel like they can continue to have a better balance in their lives and the Government is committed to introducing measures to support this. Significant advances in the provision of family leave have been made over the past few years, beginning with the introduction of paid parent's leave. This provides an entitlement to each parent individually to encourage a sharing of the care of a child in their earliest years. Unpaid parental leave has also been extended.

The Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 extended the provision of paid parent's leave to five weeks for each eligible parent and made important changes to the arrangements for adoptive leave, providing, for the first time, choice in which parent avails of the leave. Parent's leave is due another extension in July this year, which will bring the entitlement to seven weeks for each eligible parent to be taken within the first two years of a child’s life or adoptive placement. The Government will also shortly consider legislative proposals to transpose the remaining elements of the EU work-life balance directive, including a right to request flexible working within the terms of the directive and an entitlement to leave for medical care purposes.

Unfortunately, the gender pay gap remains significant in Ireland and around the world. It is indicative of the work still to be done to ensure that women have equal access to economic empowerment. The effects of the gender pay gap are lifelong and result in women experiencing poverty at higher levels later in life. According to the latest figures published by EUROSTAT, the gender pay gap in Ireland in 2018 was 11.3% while the gender pay gap across the European Union overall was 14.1%.

This Government is serious about further reducing the gender pay gap. The national strategy for women and girls includes specific commitments on the issue while the programme for Government promises to legislate to require publication of information on the gender pay gap in large companies. The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced a legislative basis for gender pay gap reporting in Ireland and reporting by organisations with more than 250 employees will begin this year. Regulations to give effect to this legislation are in preparation and will be published in the coming weeks along with guidance for employers. Reporting requirements will then be rolled out over the next few years to organisations with more than 150 employees and then to organisations with more than 50 employees. These requirements will eventually encompass approximately two thirds of employees in the State. Gender pay gap reporting will help employers to identify the drivers behind their individual gender pay gaps and employers will be required, as part of the reporting process, to explain their gender pay gaps and to propose measures and steps to be taken to address them. It will also provide transparency for employees on which companies are doing the most to address their gender pay gaps.

Another area where women have been let down in the past is their health. Women have specific physical, mental and social health needs and, over too long a period, these have not been sufficiently recognised and invested in. The Government I lead is committed to changing that. Today, my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, joined by all his female colleagues in Government, launched a new women’s health action plan for the coming two years. This plan will see a massive increase in investment in women’s health. For context, in 2020 we spent €4 million on new funding for targeted women’s healthcare measures. In 2022, we will spend €31 million. That is €48 million in a full year. We will embed the initiatives we introduced over the past year and we will significantly grow the available supports, services and expertise in contraception, breastfeeding, menopause care, women’s mental health and gynaecology.

I am grateful for, and acknowledge, the enormous effort from the diverse range of stakeholders who came together to develop this strategy with the Minister.

The Citizen’s Assembly on Gender Equality made 45 recommendations. In line with the programme for Government commitment to consider each of the recommendations, Departments are examining the recommendations in detail. The recommendations are comprehensive, covering care, social protection, education and leadership, as well as recommendations for constitutional amendment. The Joint Committee on Gender Equality will play a valuable role in the consideration of these recommendations and I know that detailed briefing has been provided by the relevant Departments to assist the committee in its work.

Tugann Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan deis dúinn féachaint conas atáimid ó thaobh comhionannais inscne de. Caithfimid admháil cá bhfuil obair fós le déanamh, ach caithfimid freisin an obair a rinneadh go dtí seo a aithint. Trí fhorbairt straitéise nua in 2023, a leanfaidh straitéis náisiúnta na mban agus na gcailíní, beidh deis againn aithint cá rachaimid sa todhchaí chun céimeanna suntasacha breise a thógáil sna blianta atá romhainn.

International Women’s Day is an important opportunity to take stock of where we are as a country when it comes to gender equality. While some progress has been made, there is still much work to be done. Last year, 2021, was a very challenging year, not least in terms of the national reckoning on the issue of violence against women. In the coming year, we have the opportunity to demonstrate that we meant what we said about things needing to be different in future. I believe that this can be a watershed year when it comes to gender equality and I look forward to working with Deputies from all sides of the House to try to make it so.

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