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

I thank the Deputy. Since its formation, the Government has made it clear that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a key priority. I am conscious of the risk of poverty that those fleeing domestic violence face. The programme for Government contained a commitment to investigate the feasibility of providing paid leave and social protection supports for victims of domestic violence. The Government has approved the drafting of Committee Stage amendments to the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill to provide for a form of domestic violence leave. The amendment will amend the Parental Leave Act 1998 and provide for five days paid leave for victims of domestic violence. The provisions will be guided by the recommendations of the report on domestic violence leave, but will not include a requirement for proof. It is to hoped that will address the concern raised by the Deputy.

Once they meet their statutory obligations, employers are free to provide a more extensive and entitlement to employees. Employers in the State and private sectors have already brought in provisions on this. In line with the recommendations of the domestic violence leave report, the Department will also commission templates and other supports for individual employers to develop their domestic violence workplace policies intended to foster a culture of openness and support for employees who may be experiencing domestic violence. This is important because I engaged with trade unions, sexual and gender-based violence, SGBV, groups and employers on this issue.

There are some concerns around employers because of the sensitivity of this issue. I do not believe it is enough that we should bring in proof of requirement, and that is why we will not be doing so. However, we need to support employers, from the very big to the very small, in how they implement this leave and, more generally, how they support an employee who is a victim of domestic violence. That is why we will work on a range of policies. My Department will develop template policies which can be used to support employers, so that an employer without a large HR department will be supported in terms of addressing this leave and the wider supports for victims.

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