Ivana Bacik (Labour) | Oireachtas source

These amendments seek to create more peremptory language on the regulations, and that regulations shall prescribe the form and manner in which information is to be published. Again, it is to address the issue I raised on Committee Stage. This is very much a facilitative Bill and does not provide very much by way of detail as to how the regulations will take effect, what duties will be on employers and how the pay transparency guidelines will be enforced. The Minister mentioned the lack of detail in my proposed amendment earlier with regard to consultation with trade unions. We are seeing very little detail in the provisions of the Bill as it stands, as to how it will take effect. I thanked the Minister on Committee Stage for setting out in a little more detail, for example, the idea of the website. If one were to read the language of the Bill there really is very little guidance for employers, unions or women in workplaces as to exactly how the legislation is to take effect and what the regulations will contain. It is expressed in such general and less peremptory terms. We are simply seeking to highlight this point by substituting the word "shall" for that of "may" in the two places where it arises in the provision.