Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

A measured debate on this matter with the Minister for Justice and Equality would be appropriate, but not a knee-jerk debate today when there are ongoing operations and it is not yet clear what will be the outcome in terms of whether Mr. Brockwell will be returned to Britain to serve the remainder of his sentence. Fianna Fáil tabled an amendment on this issue yesterday also, and I felt it was most inappropriate to be playing political football with this issue.

Will the Leader see whether the Employment Equality (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill might resume Committee Stage in this House before Easter? We are awaiting the drafting of Government amendments to this important Bill, which will reform section 37 of the employment equality legislation to ensure that teachers in particular will not face any discrimination by their employer on grounds of sexual orientation. It is a very important Bill. I was promised that it would be back before the House before Easter. We have been awaiting the resumed Committee Stage for some time now and I ask the Leader to make inquiries as to when it will be before this House.

I welcome the article in The Irish Timestoday by former Supreme Court judge and former Senator, Catherine McGuinness, in respect of the issue of gender equality in academic employment. She notes that Professor Jane Grimson, former TCD Bryce provost, has been appointed to chair an independent task force at NUI Galway to look into this issue. I and other colleagues in this House had raised this issue in light of the successful case taken by Micheline Sheehy Skeffington against NUI Galway, so I very much welcome the fact that NUI Galway is taking proactive steps to address issues of gender inequality at third level.There are some very worrying figures quoted in the article today by Mrs. Justice McGuinness in terms of the pay gap and the low number of women at senior level in academia. While many of us are very much aware of this, it is an issue that needs to be highlighted and in respect of which we need to be proactive. Action needs to be taken in this regard.

I support the comments of the Senators yesterday who spoke in support of the plain packaging legislation in relation to cigarettes. I note there are further reports today regarding JTI Ireland's threatened litigation. I note also that the Australian research often quoted against plain packaging legislation has now been questioned on the basis that it was commissioned and funded by a large cigarette company. The plain packaging legislation introduced by the former Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, needs to be supported. We need to speak out on this issue where possible.