Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will disregard the comments that have been made.

More pertinently for the week that is in it, given that International Women's Day is this Friday and its theme is balance for better, can I ask the Leader to ascertain when the Government is likely to publish its Bill on gender pay gap reporting? My colleagues are aware that the Labour Party Bill on gender pay gap reporting passed this House last November without opposition from anyone and passed Second Stage in the Dáil at the end of November, yet the Government still has not moved beyond simply the heads and scheme of a Bill, published last year, and on which the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality has finished its pre-legislative scrutiny. The report from the committee points out the immense delay in bringing forward legislation on mandatory reporting about gender pay gap figures. Given it is almost International Women's Day, given how important this issue is and that legislation has been brought into force in our neighbouring jurisdiction and many other European and international jurisdictions, it is important that action is taken by the Government. It is a pity the Government did not do it last year when we were celebrating the centenary of women's suffrage but it would be dreadful to see the legislation delayed any further. I ask the Leader to make inquiries and that we have a debate in due course on how best to implement legislation on the gender pay gap. The quickest and most effective way would have been for the Government to have simply amended and adopted the Labour Party Bill as it had indicated it would when the Bill first came into the Seanad.

I also ask the Leader for an indication as to when the Government's amendments on parental leave will be ready. The Labour Party had time on the Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 on Committee Stage but is still has to go through Report Stage in this House. This is a matter of significance particularly to many women who are seeking to balance parenting and workplace responsibilities. It is also significant to men. Parental leave is, clearly, gender neutral. It is an important part of a whole package of measures which are necessary to ensure greater equality and diversity in the workplace. I ask the Leader to make urgent inquiries as to when the Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill will be back before this House with the Government amendments ready and to take Report Stage in Government time because that would be appropriate.

I thank the representatives from Trócaire, Concern and Goal who gave an update to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence yesterday on the current situation in Syria ahead of an important conference on Syria which will be held in Brussels next week and at which Ireland will be represented. The committee heard urgent appeals for sustained commitment to multi-annual funding for humanitarian workers and the need to protect front-line humanitarian workers who are facing immense danger while working in various regions of Syria which are still conflict regions. The committee also heard about the need to secure the safe return of refugees to Syria and to ensure lasting peace there.I ask colleagues to join me in thanking the many front-line workers doing important work supporting the many civilians displaced as refugees during the Syrian conflict.