Minister welcomes submission by the Citizens’ Assembly of Gender Equality of its report to the Oireachtas

Taoiseach Michael Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, and Minister Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., have all welcomed the submission by the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality of its report to the Oireachtas. Minister O’Gorman stated that: “In its report, the Citizens’ Assembly has delivered a rich and nuanced portrait of the state of gender equality in Ireland, and expressed a high level of ambition for change... I will, with my colleagues in The government, examine these recommendations. The Government is taking the issues raised very seriously.”

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar opined that “for too long women and girls have carried a disproportionate share of caring responsibilities, been discriminated against at home and in the workplace, overlooked, objectified or lived in fear of domestic or gender-based violence. It must stop.”

Minister O’Gorman also highlighted ongoing work in relation to gender equality, noting that significant advances have been made in recent years to address inequality in Irish society, with the Government’s commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equal society re-affirmed through the Programme for Government commitments to achieve social solidarity, equality of opportunity, and economic equity for all. These measures include:

• Further advances in family leave, including the extension of Parent’s Leave and Benefit, and continuing work to give effect in Irish law to the EU Work-Life Balance Directive.
• With a view to increasing pay transparency and encouraging employers to calculate and address their gender pay gaps, the Government’s Gender Pay Gap Information Bill is shortly to begin the Second Stage in the Seanad, having completed all stages in Dáil Éireann.
• The matters of maternity and paternity leave for councilors, Senators, TDs, and Ministers are under active consideration by the relevant Government Departments.
• The Government remains committed to the full implementation of the Istanbul Convention and addressing domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence. A scheme of domestic violence leave is currently being scope and a report of recommendations is hoped to be ready In June 2021 with legislative proposals to follow by October 2021.
• The National Strategy for Women and Girls has been extended to the end of 2021. In the Programme for Government, the Government has committed to developing and implementing a new Strategy.
• The establishment earlier this month of an interdepartmental working group will facilitate the embedding of the Equality Budgeting Initiative across all Government departments, and guide its continued progress, building on the audit of Equality Data completed and published last year by the CSO.
• A review of the Equality legislation is planned to begin in 2021, this will incorporate consideration of the gender ground and of the introduction of a new ground of discrimination based on socio-economic status.
• Ireland’s first Remote Work Strategy was published in January 2021 and consultations are continuing, to inform the development of a national flexible working policy, taking into account the needs of families, employers, and the broader economy.
• Government Departments are committed to implementing the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, and considering how to promote equality, prevent discrimination, and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users, and everyone affected by their policies and plans.