Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is lots of expertise here and we have had many debates on the issue so it would be appropriate to introduce it here.

I welcome our guests in the Gallery. As they will be well aware, it has been estimated that despite changes in gender equality generally and progressive change for women's rights in Ireland over the past 11 years, the gender pay gap has narrowed only four percentage points. At current rates, the National Women's Council estimates it will take up to 170 years before it fully closes. Clearly, we cannot wait that long. It would have been nice to have addressed it in the centenary year of 2018. I thank colleagues on all sides of the House and my colleagues in the Labour Party, Senators Nash, Ó Ríordáin and Humphreys, for all of their work on this. I also thank the Minister of State and his colleagues.