Gender pay gap legislation
Deputy Howlin asked what the Government intends to do about gender pay gap legislation, noting Labour’s Bill is already advanced in the Seanad. The Tánaiste said the Government plans its own Bill and hopes to bring it forward this term.
As the Tánaiste knows, there is a gender pay gap in Ireland of 13.9%. The Government's legislative agenda, published last week, lists the gender pay dap (wage transparency) Bill, and I welcome that. However, the Labour Party has had a Bill before the Seanad for some considerable time. In fact, it has passed both Second Stage and Committee Stage and is now on Report Stage. What are the Government's intentions? The only difference that has been articulated is a matter of adding numbers into the Bill. The Labour Party's Bill can be easily amended. Is it the intention to allow the Bill that is almost through the Seanad to complete its passage in order that Members can address this matter in a speedy way or is it the intention to wait for the Government itself to legislate in this area?