Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
488. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measure he will take to close the gender pay gap, reported recently by the Central Statistics Office (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46627/23]
View answerI welcome the publication on 18 October by the Central Statistics Office of the results of the 2022 Structure of Earnings Survey (SES), which includes a calculation of the gender pay gap (GPG) for Ireland for 2022. The 9.6% figure for 2022 includes all firm sizes including those with 1-9 employees and in the Public Administration, Defence, and Compulsory Social Security economic sectors.
Addressing the factors behind the gender pay gap was a key commitment in the National Strategy for Women and Girls, and is a multifaceted task involving a number of Government Departments and agencies. The Programme for Government commitment to legislate to require publication of the gender pay gap in large companies, was met in 2022 and followed by the publication last December of the first gender pay gap reports by large employers.
The Regulations made under the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 to enable reporting required organisations with over 250 employees to report on their gender pay gap in 2022. Employers were required to choose a ‘snapshot’ date in June and to base their reporting on the employees they have on that date. Employers have six months from their snapshot date to make the relevant calculations and prepare their report. 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 are required to publish their report and statement in a manner easily accessible to the public, such as on their website. Gender pay gap reporting will be extended to organisations with over 150 employees in 2024.
Other measures taken by Government which impact positively on reducing gender pay gaps include the extension of family leaves to support greater sharing of caring responsibilities between women and men, and investment in quality affordable childcare.
Consultations for the development of a successor to the National Strategy for Women and Girls will begin later this year.
