Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 2

Written Answers. - Gender Equality.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

375 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will progress the Beijing Platform for Action following the recent UN conference on the rights of women; the way in which he will formulate the Irish national plan; the resources available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17960/00]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

376 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will reform and develop the Monitoring Committee on the Commission on the Status of Women; the plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17961/00]

John Gormley

Question:

410 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will indicate a timetable for the drawing up of the Government's promised national action plan to implement the Beijing Platform for Action. [18454/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 375, 376 and 410 together.

I headed Ireland's delegation to the special session of the UN General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-first Century." The special session adopted a political declaration and an outcome document with the aim of accelerating implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness provides that a review will be undertaken of the overall structures for the monitoring and implementation of present commitments in relation to gender equality under the Beijing Platform for Action, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the recommendations of the Second Commission on the Status of Women.

My Department has started work on the development of a national action plan for gender equality for 2000-05. Consultation with NGOs will be an important aspect of the plan. Enhancement of consultation structures was the theme of a national forum which my Department held recently in Dublin Castle for non-governmental organisations. It is envisaged that a draft plan will be drawn up later this year and that a process of consultation will then ensue.

All Departments will be asked to provide details of targets to implement the Beijing Platform for Action, including benchmarks and time scales, for inclusion in the national plan. The question of allocation of further resources, if necessary, will be addressed when these targets have been outlined and indicators identified.

My Department has also commissioned research to develop mechanisms to monitor progress in achieving gender equality in Ireland and indicators for use in measuring the practical impact of policies and programmes on the status of women and to meet gender monitoring requirements under various national and international commitments. The development of the national action plan will be informed by this research, which is due to be completed within the next month or so. The review of gender monitoring structures will also be informed by this research.