The programme for Government refers to the empowerment of women and ending inequalities in the workplace. In light of that, has the Government any legislation to deal with the situation reported in the past several months where there are delays of up to four years in dealing with harassment and inequality cases at the Workplace Relations Commission? For example, NUI women lecturers have taken a case but have been waiting two years for it to be heard.

During the austerity period, the Equality Tribunal and several other organisations were disbanded and merged into the Workplace Relations Commission. Since then, the Government, as well as the previous one, has overseen a situation where a message has been sent out to women that there is not much point in taking a case because one would be waiting years and may well be in new employment etc. How does the Taoiseach expect people to take it seriously when this situation pertains?

I am not sure if legislation is the solution to backlogs in the Workplace Relations Commission. It may be related to staffing levels or resources within the organisation itself. I will ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation to correspond with the Deputy on the matter.