Speech on Order of Business: Gender Pay Gap, Refugees at Moria Camp, Dublin Covid Rules

Today is the first United Nations international equal pay day and I ask the Leader for a debate on legislation to close the gender pay gap. This House passed legislation that I and the Labour Party group initiated previously but unfortunately it seems to have run into the ground. I would like a debate on it.

I echo the words of Senator Sherlock in welcoming the decision by the Minister and the Government to bring in unaccompanied children from the Moria camp. We need to do more and show more generosity in this regard.

In respect of the reports that Dublin is facing increased regulation and restriction, what we need is clarity. I do not think it is helpful to blame NPHET or the HSE. Responsibility lies with the Government. I agree with those who say we should debate the regulations in the House. We did debate them in the context of the Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill. It ended up being a debate about the regulations and which were penal provisions and which were not. What we need to see, and what we have not had from the Government this week, is clarity on whether it is following NPHET recommendations, which are only recommendations, and why it is doing so. We need to see the rationale and rational evidence-based political decision-making by the Government. Where we are looking for responsibility it lies with the political decision makers.