Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 July 2018
7. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on measures to eliminate the gender pay gap; when he expects a Bill on this matter to progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29666/18]
View answerTackling the gender pay gap is an important element in the Programme for a Partnership Government and finds expression, in particular, in Articles 1.21 to 1.23 of the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020. It is a task that I am determined to progress.
I am pleased to say therefore that the Government recently approved the General Scheme of the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill which will require employers with 50 or more employees to publish gender pay gap information periodically. The General Scheme is published on my Department's website and has been sent to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality for pre-legislative consideration. I look forward to engaging with members on this Bill - I think this is action that all sides of the House can support and I am keen that we proceed on the basis of real consensus.
The other relevant actions in the National Strategy for Women and Girls to specifically addressing the gender pay gap are to undertake a package of measures, to initiate dialogue between union and employer stakeholders on the matter, to increase understanding of the gender pay gap and its causes and to develop practical tools to assist employers to calculate the pay gap within their organisations.
A public consultation was undertaken on the matter in Autumn 2017 on the gender pay gap and this attracted a good response, with some 38 submissions received from employers, unions, civil society, professional bodies and individuals from varied backgrounds. In January of this year, a symposium brought together over 130 participants including politicians, senior policymakers, business representatives, trades unions and academics. Consultations have taken place with ICTU and Ibec about the gender pay gap especially in the context of the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill and there will be further contact both in that context and more broadly in relation to this matter.
We know that tackling this issue is good for equality and that it makes good business sense, bringing greater profitability to the economy as a whole.
That is why I am determined to pursue this matter with a view to ensuring we make the necessary progress.
