Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wished to speak to this grouping of amendments, but specifically amendments Nos. 3 and 4, because I was looking for clarity. I know there was some discussion with regard to this in the Seanad. There seem to be some amendments accepted that would have been put forward by Senators Ruane and Higgins - I wished to see where exactly this is - with regard to the rate of pay.

We know about the financial hardship. We have discussed it in various forums, but something not highlighted is faced by many women in this situation and spoken about by many organisations such as Women's Aid or any of the domestic violence refuges that deal with women. When women make the initial call, it might take a few phone calls and attempts to leave the situation. Some of the advice given is to prepare a getaway bag, for want of better words. In certain relationships, women are being monitored, either by their ex-partner or current partner and are trying to get away from that situation.

One of the concerns I have is the rate of pay not being the same as the woman's wage pay. If she is being monitored and that person is logging into her online banking or seeing her payslips - we all know that should not be happening, but that is the reality, especially in coercive control - and the person is seeing a difference in pay, it may spark some negative and unwanted attention when one is trying to get out of the situation. I do not know if some of this has been addressed in the Seanad debate, because we were not at that debate, but I wonder whether we can get clarity on it. Has that point been taken on board? Women's Aid made some very good points, which I am sure it gave to the Minister, with regard to the debate in the Seanad about the rate of pay.

I do not think we should be comparing it with sick pay or leave. It is very different and it should be the same rate of pay one is getting in one's job.

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