asked the Taoiseach the responsibilities of Deputy Fennell, Minister of State at his Department; the number of staff for which she is responsible; the sections, if any, of other Departments that have been transferred to his Department and assigned to her area of responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ministerial Responsibilities.
1.
Minister Fennell has responsibility for Women's Affairs and Family Law Reform and is a Minister of State at both the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Justice. The work arising in the Minister's area of responsibility is carried out by five people working directly with the Minister in her office and by existing staff of the Economic and Social Policy Division of the Department of the Taoiseach. No staff have been transferred to the Department of the Taoiseach arising from the area of responsibility assigned to Minister Fennell.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the Minister of State made a recent statement to the effect that an inter-departmental committee structure will be set up covering a number of Departments? Have that committee been established and, if so, what are their terms of reference? Will they be reporting to the Minister of State or to the individual Departments? Also can the Taoiseach give us some details?
That is a separate question, but I can confirm that an interdepartmental committee has been established on women's affairs and on family law reform.
They have been established?
Yes, they have. I can give the terms of reference but I am a little reluctant to do so. I am not sure how far I should go. It is a separate question, but I am more than anxious to be helpful.
If the Taoiseach has the information with him and wishes to give it, the Chair has no objection.
The terms of reference are to review the existing situation in relation to measures affecting women's affairs and family law reform, identifying areas still requiring action, considering the best administrative structures for implementing a programme of reform, identifying measures to promote positive opportunities and facilities to enable women to participate more fully in the life of the community and generally monitoring developments and keeping progress under review. The intention is that a programme of reform will be drawn up with the assistance of the working party within approximately one year and this will form the basis of a policy document to be submitted to the Government for approval.
What Departments are represented on the committee?
It is a separate question. I have not got a complete list and I would not want to mislead the Deputy by giving that information incomplete. If he likes to put down a separate question I will be happy to answer it.
Have the committee been set up?
They have.
Does the Taoiseach know who is on it?
I have not got that information.
Has the Taoiseach got it in his head?
I have and I will be more than happy to reply to it if it is put down as a separate question.
(Interruptions.)
You think up the questions; we answer them.