Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022
36. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the implementation of the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28542/22]
View answerThe Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative basis for gender pay gap reporting in Ireland. The Act was commenced on 31 May 2022.
Regulations have been made under the Act which enable reporting in 2022. The Regulations require organisations with over 250 employees to report on their gender pay gap in 2022. Employers will choose a ‘snapshot’ date in June 2022 and will base their reporting on the employees they have on that date. Employers will then have six months to make the relevant calculations and prepare their report, which should be published on the equivalent date in December 2022. The Regulations also require employers to publish a statement setting out, in the employers’ opinion, the reasons for the gender pay gap in their company and what measures are being taken or proposed to be taken by the employer to eliminate or reduce that pay gap. Employers will be required to publish their report and statement in a manner easily accessible to the public, such as on their website.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has published guidance for employers on how gender pay gap calculations should be made (www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0cb29-gender-pay-gap-information-act-2021/). It is also continuing to engage with trade union and employer representative bodies.
Plans are in place to develop an online reporting system for the 2023 reporting cycle.
