Patrick McCartan
Question:10 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach if he will appoint a junior Minister to his Department with responsibility for the arts and culture in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Junior Ministers.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:11 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if he intends to appoint a Minister of State with specific responsibilities for women's affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
The Government, on Thursday, 13 February, appointed Deputy Tom Kitt, on my nomination, to be Minister of State at my Department with special responsibility for arts and culture and for women's affairs.
My question asked whether the Taoiseach intends to appoint a Minister of State with specific responsibilities for women's affairs, in other words, with sole responsibility for that area. I am sure the Taoiseach will acknowledge that it is an area which requires the undivided attention of a Minister of State given that it relates to the business of almost half the population.
As we have seen in recent times, particularly in regard to the recent court case, crucial issues need to be dealt with. The Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, is responsible for arts, culture, European and women's affairs. Will the Taoiseach agree that, despite the Deputy's obvious abilities, it is too wide a brief and that a specific Minister should be appointed for women's affairs?
The Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, is a very good, young and active man who is well able to shoulder the burden of the briefs we have entrusted to him. All members of the Government have responsibility for the advancement of the status of women in their own areas. I assure the House that I am fully committed to the advancement of women in all areas as far as it is reasonably possible.
What about Mary?
I strongly believe that posts should not be filled on the basis of gender alone. I would tend to favour the appointment of a woman to a particular post where there is equal merit.
(Interruptions.)
So long as they do not come from Athlone.
Question No. 12.
No Athlone ladies need apply.
My record in regard to the appointment of women to semi-State boards far exceeds the record of anybody over there.
Everything done over there always exceeds everything done over here.
On one occasion six of the 12 members of a semi-State company, namely the Irish Goods Council, appointed by me when I was Minister for Industry and Commerce——
They were all appointed on the basis of ability.
The Government then abolished the council.
May I——
A brief question, Deputy De Rossa.
(Interruptions.)
Is it not true that the Government abolished the Irish Goods Council? If that is the best answer the Taoiseach can give it is not a very good example.
Beat it if you are able.
(Interruptions.)
I do not think the Deputy's record in relation——
He boasts about appointing women but they abolished the board.
(Interruptions.)
Question Time has become rather noisy, Deputy De Rossa.
Will the Taoiseach confirm that the appointment of women, which is covered in a later question in my name, is only one aspect of women's affairs? Given that women account for almost half the population and that they have traditionally been discriminated against in a whole range of areas of life, the Taoiseach would be doing some good if he appointed a Minister of State with sole responsibility in that area. It would give confidence to Irish women if they saw the Government were finally taking their concerns seriously rather than lumping them in with issues that are equally important. European affairs, arts and culture are equally important as women's affairs, but I believe a case can be made for the appointment of a separate Minister of State with primary responsibility for that area.
I believe the allocation of responsibilities among the 15 Ministers of State, the maximum which can be appointed, achieves the correct balance. I have no doubt that Irish women have full confidence that the Government and the Ministers of State will look after their best interests.