Ruairí Quinn
Question:224 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if he will set out the legislative and administrative priorities of his Department following his appointment as Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Ministerial Policy.
In relation to legislation my priorities are:
(i) the Merchant Shipping Bill (which deals inter alia, with safety of small ferries) and the adoption of regulations thereunder when the legislation is enacted;
(ii) the statutory instruments to give effect to the obligatory annexes of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Convention on Marine Pollution and the revisions to the IMO Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea;
(iii) statutory instruments dealing with fish health and hygiene matters which are necessary as part of the EC 1992 Internal Market programme, and,
(iv) updating the Foreshore Act, 1933.
As regards administrative and policy priorities I would draw the Deputy's attention to the answers given to parliamentary questions on 25 February which covered the full range of the marine portfolio.
I propose in particular, to give priority to the following issues:—
(a) the review of the Common Fisheries Policy, EC fishing fleet targets for Ireland and developing fishery harbour infrastructures;
(b) measures to improve the competitiveness of Irish ports and the shipping sector;
(c) implementation of angling fishery co-operatives;
(d) establishment of the marine institute;
(e) employment creation in the aquaculture sector (particularly shellfish) and development of the State foreshore; and
(f) continued upgrading of the marine safety, air sea rescue and emergency response capability.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:225 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the precise actions he intends to take now to promote equality within his Department in general and in particular to promote qualified women to higher posts within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department is fully committed to the implementation of the equal opportunity policy and guidelines for the Civil Service adopted under the scheme of conciliation and arbitration, for the Civil Service. The guidelines commit my Department as an employer to ensuring conditions of service for staff which do not discriminate on grounds of sex or marital status and which promote full equality of opportunity between women and men.
All promotions within my Department are made on the basis of general suitability and experience and with due regard to the equal opportunity guidelines. Equality of opportunity exists at all stages of the promotion process. In particular and where practicable both sexes are represented on interview boards, the members of which are instructed in the prevention of discrimination. In addition my Department attempts to ensure that there are no impediments such as the lack of experience or training which would disadvantage female staff in the promotion situation.
Taking the most senior promotions in my Department over the past two years, the Deputy will be interested to note that the one promotion to principal officer was filled by a woman; of two promotions to inspector of fisheries at the Department's fisheries research centre one was filled by a woman while of six promotions to higher executive officer three were filled by women.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:226 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if he will define the new and existing responsibilities of the Minister of State within his Department following the recent changes in the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Minister of State at the Department of the Marine, Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, TD, will, in support of the Minister, have a full input into all elements of the marine portfolio.
Deputy Gallagher is also Minister of State at Roinn na Gaeltachta.