Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021
363. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will publish the outcomes of the consultations by his Department which concluded on 9 April 2021 on the operation of a paid leave scheme for victims of domestic violence. [32708/21]
View answerSince its formation, this 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.
As the Deputy is aware, the issue of domestic violence leave is currently being studied by officials in my Department, including 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.
My Department has also engaged in a targeted 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, including with the monitoring committee of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, employers' groups and trade unions and with stakeholders of the national Equality Strategy Committees falling under my Department’s remit.
A report is being prepared based on this work which will be brought to Government in the coming weeks. The report will include recommendations on how best to support employees experiencing domestic abuse, including the provision of a form of leave.
