“It’s definitely a first step but I think more should be done” says the presidential candidate.
Former president of UL feminist society Katelyn O’Regan said discussion of wages is a generational issue. “Our generations are more likely to talk about what they earn, where I think that was kind of taboo for older people” she said.
New gender pay gap portal announced
This comes following Norma Foley’s announcement of a centralised source for gender pay gap data in Ireland this weekend.
The Minister of Children, Disability and Equality said the portal will display gender pay gaps for companies in both the public and private sector. Currently, pay gap reports are posted by each company on their individual websites.
The mean gender pay gap in Ireland is currently 9.6%, something Norma Foley said the new portal will help to raise awareness for.
Speaking on Saturday, Minister Foley commented “Women are capable, committed and talented contributors to the workforce. The levels of pay should reflect this. A powerful society is a fair and equal society.”
Calls for greater wage transparency
Katelyn O ‘Regan agreed with the portal as she admitted it will create more transparency and will highlight private companies that may have “hidden figures.”
Katelyn further stated that a binary still exists in wage disparities. “We shouldn’t overlook the queer and trans people facing huge disparity in wage and representation.
Katelyn O’Regan was the president of UL’s former feminist society. She says the society had “great engagement” but people are still “reluctant to identify themselves as feminists.”
“If they elect a feminist as president, I’ll get it back in no problemo. I would love if someone started it again.”