Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will publish the conclusions of the review that his Department undertook in 2021 on domestic violence paid leave; and if a copy of this review has been provided to the agencies and organisations that participated in it. [46108/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since its formation, this Government has made it clear that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a key priority. Conscious of the risk of poverty that those fleeing domestic violence face, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to investigate the feasibility of providing paid leave and social protection supports to victims of domestic violence.

The issue of domestic violence leave has been researched by officials in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This research has included consideration of domestic violence leave at international level, identifying best practice and developing a suitable model for roll-out in Ireland.

The Department engaged in a targeted consultation process with relevant stakeholders and social partners to examine how a scheme of leave should operate to address the needs of victims most effectively. This has included consulting with the monitoring committee of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, employers' groups and trade unions. Stakeholders of the National Equality Strategy Committees have also been consulted.

I have met with a number of employer representative bodies in relation to the domestic violence leave, as well as on the upcoming Work Life Balance Bill, including IBEC, Chambers Ireland and ICTU. A report has been prepared based on this work, which was brought to Government this week. The report includes recommendations on how best to support employees experiencing domestic abuse, including proposals for the introduction of domestic violence leave. I intend to progress this leave as part of the Work Life Balance Bill.

The report will very shortly be available on Gov.ie and shared with all stakeholders who participated in the consultation process.