Vol. 429 No. 7
15 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has put in place for the implementation of the recommendations of the Second Commission on the Status of Women; the way in which he proposes to ensure that the aspects which relate to Government Departments are acted on; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
23 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the measures he has taken with other Government Departments in pursuit of equality objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
25 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the terms of reference of the monitoring committee which is to be established to monitor the Second Commission on the Status of Women.
26 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he will appoint a monitoring committee to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Second Commission on the Status of Women.
43 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if grant aid is available for the provision of an electricity supply to persons in the disadvantaged areas scheme; if so, the reason people have not been receiving the grant aid; if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and when he will be making funds for this purpose available.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 23, 25, 26 and 43 together.
I would, first, refer the Deputies to my statements in the House on 26 February last on the Report of the Commission on the Status of Women. As I indicated then, I am having the recommendations in the commission's report examined with the objective of deciding on priorities for implementation. This work is well in hand and I intend, on foot of consultation with the other Government Ministers, to establish a programme for implementation of a first tranche or recommendations. I would envisage that a monitoring committee, with appropriate terms of reference, to facilitate implementation of the programme would be set up.
Alongside this process, the Government has taken the initiative directly on a number of equality issues. For example, measures are being taken to achieve the objective in the Programme for Government that there be a minimum of 40 per cent of both men and women among the direct Government nominees on State boards and to improve the overall gender balance of such boards. Also, I hope to table a Bill on adoptive leave in the coming months.
The Minister said he envisages the appointment of a monitoring committee. Will that be an outside committee and will it involve members of the commission that drew up this excellent report? Will there be a role for the new Oireachtas Joint Committee on Womens' Rights in relation to the implementation of the recommendations in this report? As regards the Government's decision that 40 per cent of all members of State boards be female, does that requirement apply to visiting committees of prisons and other such Government appointments?
It applies to State boards and to appointments made by the Government. Outside bodies make their own decisions on appointments. However, necessary pressure will be brought to bear on them to ensure that they too observe the 40 per cent gender quota. I envisage the Joint Committee on Women's Rights as having a major monitoring role in terms of the implementation of the commission's recommendations. I have not yet determined the exact composition of the monitoring committee which I envisage will be set up in the autumn. That will allow a reasonable length of time to implement the first tranche of recommendtions. The composition of the committee will be broadly based and I will consider that matter in the meantime.
In relation to legislation to provide for leave for adoptive parents, is the Minister aware that Deputy Bertie Ahern, when Minister for Labour, promised such legislation? In his first budget as Minister for Finance in 1992, Deputy Ahern included provision for such legislation. This matter was again mentioned in the context of the most recent budget and was flogged by the Minister for Equality and Law Reform as a Labour Party achievement at the recent Labour Party conference. As it is two years since a Government involving Fianna Fáil announced that legislation would be introduced in this area, will the Minister indicate what the difficulties are and when the legislation will be published? Will all aspects of it be contained in the Bill to be published by his Department or will a further Bill be required from the Department of Social Welfare?
I take no resposnibility for what was indicated in previous budgets by Deputy Ahern when Minister for Labour or by anybody else. I will publish this Bill, which is at an advanced stage of preparation, in the next few months. I have been in office for 100 days and have undertaken immediate and urgent work on that Bill, as on a number of others. Amending legislation by the Minister for Social Welfare will also be required as a concomitant to that Bill.
This is an important matter as thousands of adoptive couples are disadvantaged in this regard. Is the Minister saying that in addition to this Bill — from what the Minister says it seems there is no possibility that the Bill will be published before the autumn — another measure will be required from the Department of Social Welfare? Will the Minister indicate whether application of this measure will be back-dated to two years ago, to the time the Government first agreed to it after I pressed them to do so, or is it simply envisaged that this benefit will be available only in the year 1994?
I did not say the Bill would not be published before the summer recess; I hope it will be published before then. Amending legislation by the Department of Social Welfare will be required. As regards back-dating the measure, it would be difficult to grant adoptive leave to somebody who adopted a child two years ago. The Bill will be prospective in its effect.
We are talking about a social welfare payment. Is the Minister aware that social welfare payments which it was decided should be made to those adopting in 1992 have not been made for one reason only, namely, that the Department of Equality and Law Reform and its predecessor failed to produce legislation governing adoptive leave?
The position is similar with all legislation that confers benefit. I have been in office for 100 days and I hope to produce the Bill shortly. I have no knowledge of the reasons for the delay in publication of the Bill by the last Government but since I took office I have regarded this measure as important. It has been worked on consistently and I expect it will be published before the summer recess.
If the Minister regards the matter as important why was the social welfare aspect of it not dealt with in the Social Welfare Bill which passed through the House some weeks ago?
Because the Minister's Department did not produce the other legislation.
Is the Minister able to explain the reason for that? No, he is not.
Will the Minister agree that in relation to implementing the recommendations of the commission, one of the key aspects is the link between the Department of Equality and Law Reform and other Departments? Will the Minister say what communication has taken place in this regard and what issues have been considered by the committee set up in this area?
As I told the House when we were debating the commission's report — we had a full day's debate on that matter — my programme manager has been given the task of communicating with all Ministers and Ministers of State with responsibility for implementing the recommendations. He has analysed the recommendations and will maintain constant communication with all Departments. In addition, the Joint Committee on women's rights will act as a monitoring body — a separate monitoring review body may be set up in the autumn. Therefore, implementation of the recommendations will be very well monitored. Deputy O'Rourke indicated she would set up a monitoring committee in her Department and I have encouraged all other Departments to do likewise. The matter is being closely monitored on a regular basis.
Has the Minister prioritised certain issues for the various Departments? For example, what are the priorities on child care and the setting up of a policy in the Department in this regard?
My Department will not set priorities in matters that come within the ambit of other Departments. That will be a matter for each individual Minister.
Is the Minister not trying to influence that matter?
No doubt the Deputy can put down a question to each individual Minister as to their priorities in regard to the recommendations. My Department is working with all Ministers and Departments who have responsibility in this area and the question of prioritisation will be a matter for individual Ministers.
With respect, I thought the Minister had an overall co-ordinating and monitoring role.
With reference to communications that the Minister may have had with Government Departments or State or semi-State agencies with a view to achieving equality objectives, has he or his Department received any positive response from any of them?
In so far as specific replies have been received, the indications are positive. It is Government policy that the Government supports the Commission's report, and it will be implemented over a period.
Have any Government Departments failed to respond in a positive fashion?
I have not got that specific information.
Can the Minister get it?
That disposes of Questions for today.
In the end, we did not reach the other matter that arose from Question No. 10. I am not complaining about it, but could that matter be kept over as a priority question for the next occasion, rather than my getting an automatic written reply to it?
I will ask my office to note that.
