I thank the Deputy.

The next speaker is Deputy Harkin, who is sharing time with Deputy Catherine Connolly.

We move now to the Regional Group to conclude. Deputy Tóibín will be followed by Deputy Shanahan.

I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(ix) a gender breakdown of full time employees; (x) a gender breakdown of part time employees; (xi) a gender breakdown of employees with a flexible working hours contract;”. Amendments Nos. 3 and 12 are similar and relate to structural inequalities in the workplace. We need to provide for a gender breakdown of full-time and part-time employees and those with flexible working arrangements. Amendment No. 3 provides for the additiona…

With respect, I disagree with the Minister. The reason for this legislation is that women are already discriminated against in many workplaces. Many people do not believe it still happens in 2021 but there are a huge number of workplaces where a woman is paid less than a man for doing the exact same job. Women are already discriminated against in this regard and I do not accept that my amendments would somehow lead to further discrimination because they are being identified by gender. That is already happening. The…

I move amendment No. 4: In page 4, line 32, to delete "(if any)". This amendment might be referred to as a technical amendment but its purpose is to address a particular instance of the language used in the Bill. It is extremely important that any vague language be removed and the onus be firmly placed on employers to reduce gender pay gaps within their organisations. I reiterate that this legislation is a step in the right direction and an important measure. However, we must do everything we can to strengthen it a…

I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, line 39, to delete “50 employees” and substitute “20 employees”. I will make my points about these amendments and two others together. Regarding amendment No. 5, the latest CSO business demographic figures show that approximately 50% of workers in the State are employed in smaller microbusinesses with fewer than 50 employees. If we are to get a true reflection of the real gender pay gap in the State, we need to make provision for this large employee base in the Bill. This is why S…

I feel I have said everything I want to say on these amendments.

I move amendment No. 6: In page 4, line 41, to delete “250 employees” and substitute “150 employees”.

I move amendment No. 7: In page 5, line 1, to delete “2nd anniversary of” and substitute “12 months following”.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 5, line 4, to delete “150 employees” and substitute “50 employees”.

I move amendment No. 9: In page 5, line 5, to delete “3rd anniversary of” and substitute “18 months following”.

I move amendment No. 10: In page 5, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(4A) Regulations made under this section will apply to legal partnerships and multi-disciplinary practices as defined in the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015.”. The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that the legislation applies to legal partnerships and multidisciplinary practices in order that it includes as wide a representation of workers in the State as possible.

I am happy enough to withdraw the amendment based on what the Minister has said.

I welcome this amendment and it is good to have the role of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission strengthened. That is welcome. I agree that by adding the High Court to the Circuit Court, it gives the legislation additional seriousness and a greater standing. I also welcome the inclusion of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. From my experience of working for a union, they are in general more worker-friendly forums as opposed to a court, although they may not have always seemed like t…

I move amendment No. 14: In page 8, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: “(2A) Failure to comply with an order granted by the Circuit Court by the person concerned would be a Category 4 offence subject to a class A fine.”. I am withdrawing amendment No. 15 on the basis of the Government's amendment No. 13. Amendment No. 14 seeks to strengthen the provision for enforcement if a company does not comply with the legislation by inserting the following: "Failure to comply with an order granted by the Circui…

I will withdraw amendments Nos. 14 and 15.

Obviously, I always err on the side of wishing to see the review being carried out sooner than after four years. However, I welcome the fact that it has been reduced from five years to four years. That is a positive move.

I am conscious of having very limited time so I will touch briefly on a number of items in the Bill. We cannot have a situation which we saw last year on grades and the disappointment for many students where it was too late for them to attend courses. We need grades to be provided in a more timely manner. Students also need more clarity on the standardisation process. Consideration also needs to be given in cases such as where one has opted for a written examination, for example, and then has to self-isolate or is …

I commend my colleagues, Deputies Ó Broin and Doherty, on all of their continuous work on this issue. I would like to talk about the impact of investment firms buying up large swathes of housing in Ireland from the perspective of young people, and in particular those in their 20s. It is a group that sometimes gets forgotten about, not just in housing but in an awful lot of things in this country. The ESRI’s Poverty, Income Inequality and Living Standards in Ireland report, parts of which were published today, point…