3096. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of the proposed Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 and the proposed Gender Pay Gap Information (Amendment) Bill; whether it is intended that both Bills will be published before the end of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63549/26]

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme and issued its report in October 2025. The Bill is in the drafting process and the Committee's recommendations are being reviewed as part of the work to advance the Bill.

The gender pay gap is a key measure of women's economic empowerment and their equal representation in senior business roles and well-paid occupations. Under the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021, employers must publish their gender pay gap information.

The Department has developed a centralised reporting database - the Gender Pay Gap Portal. This will make information on employers’ gender pay gaps more accessible to the public and will help our understanding of the gender pay gap in Ireland and how it might be eliminated.

The Department opened the Portal on a voluntary basis in November 2025 for employers in scope of the legislation, with support from partner organisations, the 30% Club and Ibec, Government Departments, their Agencies and State bodies under their aegis. The public side of the Portal became available for public viewing in June 2026.

Legislation is currently being finalised to provide for employers to submit gender pay gap reports to the Gender Pay Gap Portal on a mandatory basis. It is intended that the Bill will be published shortly with a view to enactment and commencement for the November 2026 reporting cycle.

Once the legislation is passed, reporting through the Gender Pay Gap Portal will be mandatory for all employers over 50 employees.