asked the Taoiseach if he has met a deputation from the Council for the Status of Women; the subjects raised by the deputation; and the assurances, if any, he gave them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Status of Women Council Deputation.
1.
I met a delegation from the Council for the Status of Women on 1 April. We discussed a wide range of issues including the level of funds the council would have available to it, the facilities which it would require and its future programme of work.
I assured the deputation of the importance which the Government attached to the council's work and of our wish to assist the council to the greatest extent possible having regard to the resources available.
Could the Taoiseach tell the House whether or not he told the Council for the Status of Women that he would give them an extra allocation of money or did he just give them pious expressions of goodwill?
The representatives of the council were satisfied that my assurances to them were not pious expressions of goodwill.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the criticisms made by the council of the failure by the Government to appoint women to positions on semi-State bodies and has he done anything to remedy this situation?
That is a separate matter. We cannot go into all matters relating to the status of women.
Would the Taoiseach not like to give an indication of whether or not——
There cannot be any enlargement of the question.
Did the Taoiseach give any indication to the council during the course of the meeting of what his attitude would be in relation to changes in legislation, particularly in those areas where the council had demanded change?
We discussed a positive legislative programme and the manner in which the council would have an input into such a programme.
In relation to the question of money, what reason has the Taoiseach for telling the House that the council were satisfied with the assurances he gave them about funding?
The Deputy made a tendentious remark by asking if I only expressed pious aspirations. I assured him that they would satisfy him that what we discussed and the arrangements we made were more than pious aspirations in regard to facilities, their work programme and the funds available to them.
As a courtesy to the House, would the Taoiseach give to the House whatever information he gave to the council about the proposed legislative programme?
We discussed legislation in general terms and made a general arrangement whereby the council would be able to have an input into the legislative programme.
No guarantees or timetables.
We cannot spend all day on this subject.
It is somewhat different to what the Taoiseach said.