Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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106. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the details of the proposals on domestic violence leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50289/22]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of Deputy Carroll MacNeill and on my own behalf, I wish to acknowledge the work the Minister is doing regarding the provision of domestic violence leave. It is, of course, a core element of Government policy on sexual, domestic and gender-based, violence. I would like to obtain information on the scheme. I would also like categorically draw a line in this House under the rather tone deaf and objectionable remarks made by IBEC last week on certification being sought for such leave. I am certain the Government will put its foot down on that.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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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.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. I very much appreciate him outlining the detail on domestic violence leave. The five days is very welcome. This measure has been introduced at an appropriate time, given the unfortunate rise in the number of cases of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence across the State. Some rather alarming figures were provided to me by An Garda Síochána recently. Women, in particular, but not exclusively, who are in fear of their safety, have been isolated from the families and are under immense pressure financially deserve the support of the State in amount any measure we can introduce to assist them in getting through a very difficult time.

I was conscious of the Minister's remark that encapsulating support within the Department of Social Protection is critical. The Government, which the Minister is part of and which I am a supportive member of, cannot take just one step. It has brought in multiple steps which are equally important, such as rent support for individuals who have tried to extract themselves from horrible situations.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy. What we are doing with this paid leave is significant. We will be the second EU country to bring in paid domestic violence leave and one of a handful internationally. We are very much on the cusp in terms of our response. It part of a recognition of the general zero tolerance approach the Government is taking to this issue.

Due to the fact it is new, the legislation will build in a review after two years to examine the take-up, whether any issues have arisen and whether we should increase the five days of leave. It is important to have such a review because it is new and innovative. We have to have an understanding of how works and the opportunity to make changes and tweaks to the system. It is something the SGBV groups have welcomed across the country. Trade unions have pushed this in individual firms and the State sector, and it is something they have strongly welcomed.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. As the Minister outlined, it is critical that employers and unions are brought in to work with small companies that may not have HR department on what supports they can offer their valued employees. The step being taken by Government is showing the sort of compassion required in these circumstances. As part of the overall strategy across all Departments the Minister and I have mentioned, it is a step that will be meaningful to individual victims and, most important, build on the other supports that may be introduced in the near future.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy. That is why we are bringing forward the policy development element. We will commission independent work on the development of those policies.

There is some nervousness. Some of the groups representing some small employers flagged nervousness with us regarding the sensitivity of these issues. Ireland is a small country. People who know the victim may also know the perpetrator. People are wondering about the legal position vis-à-visthe perpetrator once they know such information. To try to address those issues and provide meaningful support to all businesses, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, we will introduce policies on addressing the application of the new leave provisions and the wider response, in particular supporting their employees to remain in work and recover, following the abuse that they suffered.