Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I think back to the McKenna judgment and other such judgments. We should have equality of reference here. I thank Senators for their substantive engagement with me on this legislation over the last weeks. This is a significant day. The passing of this legislation is significant in our journey towards gender equality.

Senator Pauline O'Reilly said that many Senators have waited all their lives for legislation like this. I think it was said in jest but we have to recognise that it is a factor of Irish life that, in many situations, women continue to be paid less than men. It is unacceptable and this legislation is an important step to redress that. It is by no means the only step and, as a society, we have much more to do to ensure full gender equality in the workplace and in many other parts of society. I am proud, as Minister with responsibility for equality, working with colleagues in the context of the programme for Government, to advance issues of gender equality, whether it is this legislation, better pay for those highly-gendered sections of the economy such as childcare, ensuring that women who suffer domestic violence while taking leave to address the situation that they are facing, and many other issues where we are advancing the equality agenda. I have initiated a review of the equality legislation which will take place over the next year. Today is a significant day. Much more work remains to be done but we can recognise that we will have solid infrastructure for reporting of the gender pay gap between male and female employees. This is an important step.