Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am literally raging that I have to raise this with the Taoiseach again. It appears that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, still intends to cut the normal rates of pay for victims availing of domestic violence leave by up to 30% despite public commitments given to the contrary. In recent weeks, Women's Aid, the National Women's Council of Ireland, Fórsa and others have outlined in great detail why this decision will place victims at significant risk of harm. The Taoiseach and I have spoken about this. He is aware of the issue. The Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, who has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the Government's zero tolerance strategy to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, agrees that paying victims a sub-rate is wrong. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, confirmed to the Irish Examiner on Friday that it was his intention to bring forward amendments to the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022, which is due for Report Stage in the Seanad this evening, to reflect the advice he has received from domestic violence service providers, but no such amendments have been tabled. Sick leave is a normal occurrence, as we all know. Domestic violence leave is not a normal occurrence, however, and people in positions of political leadership should not in any way go down the road of normalising it. It is not like sick leave. It should not be treated like sick leave. I ask the Taoiseach to speak to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and get him to submit amendments that will guarantee that victims get the full rate of pay. The Taoiseach knows the reasons they need it.

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