Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Bill will introduce significant changes to workers’ rights. I commend the Minister and his colleagues on their work in developing it and fulfilling a number of key commitments made during the formation of the Government.

The most significant aspect of the Bill, as I touched on earlier, is the introduction of paid domestic violence leave, the impact of which be overstated. It is a leap forward for our country that will put us at the forefront of this type of legislation, with just one other European country, which the Minister mentioned. Indeed, ours will be one of the few countries in the wider world to have introduced paid domestic violence leave and this is something of which we should all be proud. It shows the compassion that is required when supporting victims of domestic violence.

As with any progressive and new action, we must ensure its implementation will not hinder the good it has set out to achieve. It is vital that an individual’s application for, and the processes involved in, paid domestic violence leave be addressed with the utmost sensitivity and compassion. Therefore, I welcome the decision by the Minister not to require any documentary evidence of domestic violence when a person is seeking paid domestic violence leave. This removes an important barrier to the application process and removes any uncertainty created by IBEC’s recent questionable and tone-deaf comments on the matter.

It is the tragic nature of domestic violence that much of it is done in a way that cannot be documented, through fear, coercion, psychological abuse, financial abuse and myriad other forms of non-physical domestic violence that can, on the surface, constitute invisible forms of abuse. It is important, therefore, that the system put in place following the passage of the Bill into law be kept under review and be flexible to change in order that it may serve the people who will rely on it, and I commend the Minister on his comments regarding the two-year review period. Of course, I appreciate that, from time to time, the best of intentions can still result in issues and I am sure he would intervene prior to that should an issue arise where it can be resolved. I am confident, given the level of thought that has been put into this measure in a number of Departments, that we can get it right.

I believe this aspect of the Bill should be viewed in the wider context of changes happening within legislation on domestic violence outside of the Minister's remit. Indeed, the Minister for Justice has delivered on several significant items of policy and legislation relating to this issue. I am thinking in particular of the publication of the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, which focuses on prevention, protection and prosecution. The strategy lays the groundwork for progress and sets us on a path to becoming a more aware society. For generations in this country, we closed our eyes to the scourge of domestic violence and closed our hearts to the suffering of people in all walks of life and of all ages. The painful truth is many victims suffered in silence and, at its ugliest, became the victims of stigma and community gossip.

Thankfully, our society has come a long way since that era of silence. Increasingly, people are willing to speak out and when they do, they find a supportive community that will walk this journey with them. However, many remain locked in seemingly hopeless suffering. It is our job as legislators to ensure that every support and resource will be given to victims of domestic violence in order that when they need help, they can access it in a safe and efficient manner. It is also the job of every man, woman and child in Ireland to create a warmer, more inclusive society. We still have a long way to go before we stamp out domestic violence in all its forms from our communities, but it is a task on which we cannot relent. Last year, Women’s Aid reported that just under 27,000 contacts with women had been made, or 73 contacts per day. This underscores the importance of tackling this issue, which is ripping lives apart. I highlight also the important changes to sentencing and laws with regard to non-fatal strangulation and stalking, introduced by the Minister for Justice. These advancements are most welcome and again underscore the need for a cross-Government approach to this matter.

Of course, the Bill contains several other important developments in the rights of workers that will increase the inclusivity of workplaces. Most notably, rights relating to breastfeeding breaks will be increased from six months to two years, an important change that will remove a barrier for many women with infants when they consider how to return to work and feed their child. Extending these rights to two years will expand the ability of mothers to find a work-life balance that works for them and their family and will assist us in improving the rather sad breastfeeding statistics.

Of course, the Bill contains several other important developments which will allow for workers to request time off to care for family members or loved ones with a medical condition. I also welcome the fact that a flexible appeals system will be developed for use in the event of an employer rejecting such a request.

I highlight the aspects of this Bill which relate to working from home. Allowing for flexible working arrangements again reflects and recognises the nuances of an individual’s life and the many pressures we all face, both professionally and personally. As with issues relating to domestic violence, working from home policies should be taken on a cross-departmental basis. At a time of rising costs in everyday life, working from home can help people save on the cost, for example, of travel and fuel. It allows for parents to reduce childcare costs and allows for people to spend more of their free time how they want and not commuting. I also note that the development of digital hubs in towns and villages across Ireland will play a vital role in the successful application of flexible working, including the significant progress being made by National Broadband Ireland in connecting the homes of hundreds of people to high-speed reliable broadband to aid the aims of this Bill and broader strategy.

At its core, I believe this Bill reflects the changing nature of work and recognises the nuances of people’s everyday lives. The Government is often accused and criticised for being slow to react to issues facing people or of implementing one-size-fits-all policies. I believe that this Bill is proactive legislation that will make a real difference to people and one that delicately and sensitively addresses the complexity of people's personal lives.

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