Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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86. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the development of proposals to provide for domestic violence leave; the engagement he has had with stakeholders to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48561/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since its formation, this Government has made clear that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to investigate the provision of paid leave and social protection provision to victims of domestic violence with a view to establishing a statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence leave.

My Department is currently finalising policy proposals for consideration by Government and has examined both international models of domestic violence leave and best practice in this regard. It has researched the development of a suitable model for rollout in Ireland.

My Department has also engaged in a targeted consultation process with relevant stakeholders and social partners to examine how a scheme of paid leave should operate to address the needs of victims most effectively, including with the monitoring committee of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, employers' groups and trade unions and with stakeholders of the National Equality Strategy Committees falling under my Department’s remit.

A report is being prepared based on this work which will be brought to Government shortly. The report will include recommendations on how best to support employees experiencing domestic abuse, including leave.