I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 to 158, inclusive, together.
Since its formation, the Government has made clear that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a key priority. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to investigate the provision of paid leave and social protection provision to victims of domestic violence with a view to establishing a statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence leave. My Department is currently examining the feasibility of introducing such proposals and has committed to developing a report to Government within six months, with legislative proposals to follow within 4 months.
As the Deputy is aware, the development of a scheme of domestic violence leave is currently being scoped by officials in my Department, which will include the examination of domestic violence leave at international level, the identification of best practice and the development of a suitable model for rollout in Ireland. This work will inform policy development and proposals in this area. However, as it is being undertaken by my officials, it was not deemed to fall under the list of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned.
My Department is engaging in a broader consultation process with relevant stakeholders and social partners to examine how a scheme of paid leave should operate to address the needs of victims most effectively. At my Department’s request, the Department of Justice convened a special meeting of the monitoring committee of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence on 16 February 2021 to explore this issue with service providers and victims’ representative groups. A number of consultations have been conducted with employers groups and trade unions, with further consultations planned with stakeholders of the national Equality Strategy Committees falling under my Department’s remit. Written submissions have been invited from relevant stakeholders, which will identify key issues arising for both employees and employers, and inform future policy development in this area.
The table below contains details of stakeholder consultations conducted to date:
Date
|
Stakeholder Consultation
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16/02/2021
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Monitoring Committee of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence
|
25/02/2021
|
Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)
|
25/02/2021
|
The Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association (ISME)
|
01/03/2021
|
Chambers Ireland
|
04/03/2021
|
Ibec
|
11/03/2021
|
Strategy Committee of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy
|