Sir, – Maebh Ní Chathaláin (March 12th) repeats the old chestnut about the gender pay gap being about 14 per cent; this is the difference in average gross hourly earnings between men and women and is quoted from an National Women's Council of Ireland report. However, this is misleading and does not compare like with like. It is very different from saying that women earn 14 per cent less than men for doing the same jobs, while working the same hours and with the same years of work experience. As is acknowledged in the report, many women work fewer hours than men and such work attracts less hourly pay. Indeed a 2013 report from the National Women's Council of Ireland recognises this where it finds that women without children actually earn 17 per cent more than men but this changes when they have children. This rarely receives comment. Swings and roundabouts and life choices. – Yours, etc,
DAVID WALSH,
Maynooth, Co Kildare.