asked the Taoiseach if the Government will mark International Women's Day, 1985, by signing the United Nations Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
2.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Discrimination Against Women.
1.
asked the Taoiseach the reason the Government have not yet ratified the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women which was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1979 and opened for signatures in March 1980; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The Government are mindful of the desirability of becoming party to this UN Convention in 1985 the final year of the UN Decade for Women. The question of Ireland's accession to the convention is at present under active consideration, in particular the question of the extent of legislative change necessary to ensure its observance.
Because the then Government in 1980 promised in Copenhagen that the convention would be ratified, can the Minister of State indicate how soon she expects the necessary changes in legislation will be implemented to enable that to be done?
It is hoped that we will be able to ratify this convention this year with the minimum of reservations. As the Deputy is aware, there are certain reservations held at present relevant to this ratification but I have every confidence that we shall ratify it before the end of 1985.
Can the Minister tell the House what legislative change is required in order to enable the Government to accede to the convention?
There is the obvious one of the Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Bill and others such as domicile and citizenship.
The Minister said that the Government hoped, with reservations, to be able to sign it by the end of the year. Could the Minister outline those reservations?
That would not be possible because the ratification of this convention will be in the form of a report. It is the hope of the Government that we shall have minimum reservations. Some countries have not ratified and some have very grave and serious reservations. We are hoping that we shall have minimal reservations but I cannot outline them at present.
Of the 30 articles of the convention can the Minister say how many of those reservations would relate to which articles?
It would not be possible to give that kind of information at present. The report that will be laid before the international conference in Nairobi in July will set out all of this information and it will be ready by then.
When will legislation affecting the domicile of married women be introduced?
The Department of Justice are working on this legislation which is regarded as a matter of great urgency.
As the Minister is aware, there is a provision actively discriminating against women in the Aliens Act, 1956, whereby a male citizen who marries an alien can confer citizenship on his spouse. However, the reverse is not the case and, if a female citizen marries a male alien, she does not confer citizenship on her spouse. Will the Minister review that discriminatory provision which has great significance in terms of the United Nations?
I can confirm that legislation to correct this anomaly is being seriously considered at present.
Could the Minister explain why that discrimination exists?
What discrimination?
The discrimination against male aliens.
It exists because successive Governments have done nothing about it. This matter was covered under citizenship legislation introduced in the fifties. I am very interested in the concern expressed by the members of the Opposition because that is one of the first issues I took up soon after I was elected in 1981.
Is the Minister aware that the opposition came from the trade unions?
No, I am not aware of that.
Trade unions do not introduce legislation.
We are talking about 1956, remember the year.
I remember every year and every legislature.