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

As I said in the context of the last debate, during Committee Stage we had a very extensive debate about the rate of pay issue and a number of Senators raised issues and expressed concerns about rates being set at a rate lower than 100%, the potential impact that could have on uptake and, most importantly, recognising, as we do now, the specific nature of coercive control and the degree of examination a victim of coercive control can be under, particularly in terms of their bank account and the control that is exercised there.

I reflected carefully on the criteria that are used to set out the rates of pay. I am bringing forward two primary amendments in this group that reflect those concerns. The first is the removal in terms of consideration of the criterion of the general economic environment, issues of competitiveness and the business environment. Senators rightly flagged that that was far too macro an issue for appropriate consideration in this context. Senators Higgins, Ruane and others have tabled an identical amendment.

Again, an issue that came from our debate the last time was that there needs to be the specific input of DSGBV service providers. These are groups or organisations which know best and understand best the impact of the various elements of DSGBV, particularly the impact of coercive control and how it can be applied to a victim in terms of something as detailed as noticing a small reduction in their weekly pay package.In response to that we brought forward the amendment specifying that before any decision is taken on a rate that the views of DSGBV service providers must be taken into account. As the Minister who will be passing the regulation and setting the rate, I will not bring forward any rate that I believe would in any way undermine what we are trying to achieve with this legislation. I will not bring forward any rate that I believe would in any way put a victim of domestic violence at risk, or would in any way interfere with what we have worked so hard to achieve in terms of the introduction of paid domestic violence leave.

That is my commitment to Senators today. I believe the two amendments the Government is bringing forward today allow us to provide a mechanism whereby we can achieve the appropriate rate that will deliver comfort and assurance for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence that the legislation and the provisions we are bringing in today will be effective for them.