Equality of opportunity for women and tackling violence are key priorities for Fine Gael

Increasing female participation in politics and at senior company level, tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and making remote work a viable option are among the priority areas for Fine Gael TDs in the current Dáil and Seanad term.

Speaking ahead of International Women’s Day tomorrow (Tuesday, 8^th March), members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party outlined their commitment to advancing gender equality and ensuring there are equal opportunities for women in leadership roles in the workplace, in politics, and public life.

Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said her focus is on progressing her Private Members Bill to provide for proxy parliamentary voting and on the work of the Special Committee to implement the recommendations contained in the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality.

Deputy MacNeill, a member of the newly-established Joint Committee on Gender Equality, said: “The recommendations range from constitutional amendments to political changes to improvements in the workplace and increased support for families and households. The work of the committee and stakeholder engagement will be crucial in forming the basis for a fairer and more inclusive society though legislative change.

“I was delighted recently to introduce my first bill, the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Remote Parliamentary Voting) Bill 2020, which provides for remote voting in the Houses of the Oireachtas in specified and limited circumstances in which members not physically present may vote.

“I want to remove the barriers to electoral representation for a whole range of people who currently do not see politics as a viable career choice due to lack of formal provision for paternity and maternity leave for parliamentarians. The bill is currently making its way through the Dáil and I hope to see it enacted within the lifetime of this Government.

“We must not lose momentum on the national conversation and calls for societal and cultural change to tackle violence against women, which happened in the aftermath of the tragic death of Ashling Murphy.”

Deputy Emer Higgins has introduced the Irish Corporate Governance (Gender Balance) Bill to ensure corporate bodies maintain a minimum of 40% gender balance on their boards and governing councils.

Deputy Higgins said: “It’s very important to me that I use my voice as a member of Dáil Eireann to highlight and work to address the issues of imbalance and inequality that continue to exist in our society; issues like menopause support, miscarriage leave, safe access zones, maternity care, women’s healthcare and women in business.

“I was honoured last year to introduce my first bill in the Dáil, the Irish Corporate Governance (Gender Balance) Bill 2021. Ireland is making progress in our representation of women in the boardroom, but progress is simply not quick enough and we still have five listed companies in Ireland without a single women on their governing board. In 2022, this is not good enough and I am adamant that the time for gender quotas in the boardroom is now.”

On remote work, Senator Emer Currie said Government must set the bar in assisting businesses make the transformation to offer staff remote and flexible work arrangements to ensure equal opportunities in the workplace.

Senator Currie said: “With regard to remote work, there has to be an equal balance in supply as well as demand. Supply is about training and encouraging employers how to run digital-first companies. We are already proactive in investing in the digital transformation of businesses to help them to operate and succeed online. We need to do the same in helping office-based businesses move to remote best practice.

“We had two years of offices operating from home. Now that many employers have re-opened their offices, they need assistance as they make the transition to a digital-first rather than location-first environments, so that everyone has the same career opportunities.

“Government must lead the digital transformation and invest in training for employers with engagement from agencies like Grow Remote to enable people to work remotely. To retain the high level of demand for remote work opportunities, we must also ensure there is adequate community infrastructure around remote workers, like fully resourced hubs and flexible childcare facilities.”

Senator Regina Doherty has brought forward legislation which will increase and improve the information available to the court when a convicted sex offender is due for sentencing.

Senator Doherty said: “I introduced a bill before the Seanad to amend the Criminal Justice Act so that character references during the sentencing of those who are guilty of sexual violence must be taken under oath and can be cross examined.

“Under our current system such references, which currently are unchallenged, re-traumatise victims of violent, sexual crime. These changes will make the justice system fairer and easier for women to access when coming forward as a victim of a sexual crime. It is very much in line with the government’s commitment to make the criminal justice system a fairer place for women.

“In the past we have seen convicted sex offenders bringing local politicians, local GAA office holders and even the local clergy in to give them a character reference that is not taken under oath, that is not challenged for its veracity and not questioned by the prosecutions lawyers. This new law in its infant stage wishes to change that.’’