Vol. 433 No. 5
7 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he will ensure that the Government's submission for the next allocation of Structural Funds is gender-proofed so that its impact on women is fully assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
23 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the fact that Ireland has the lowest rate of women's involvement in European Social Fund Programmes in the last round of Structural Funds, he will give the means by which he intends to redress this imbalance with the next allocation of funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 23 together.
The Government has committed itself in its Programme for Government to introducing a policy of "gender proofing" for all legislation and other major Government decisions, in order to assess their impact on women's rights and interests. In the legislative process, each of the standing committees of the House have the task of assessing the impact of every legisative measure in terms of women's equality.
Equally important, however, is the gender proofing of other significant measures. The allocation of Structural Funds is a matter of the greatest significance in terms of the prospects, in the medium and longer term, for improving the position of women in Ireland, especially in relation to employment and training. The evaluation carried out by the European Commission of women's involvement in actions co-financed under the European Social Fund (ESF) in the 1989-1993 round has revealed that, amongst the member states of the EC, Ireland has the lowest rate of women's involvement in ESF funded programmes. Specific problems which have been highlighted in this regard include the lack of data collection and monitoring in relation to women's participation in operational programmes under the Community Support Framework, and the very low rate of childcare provision in this country.
I will be making proposals in these areas in order to ensure that the allocation of Structural Funds in the next round takes account of our commitment to achieving full equality for women in Irish society.
Will the Minister state whether the national plan, which is to be submitted to Brussels for whatever amount of Structural Funds we succeed in obtaining — they will certainly be substantial — has been gender proofed in accordance with the Government's commitment in the Programme for Government and, if so, who has carried it out? As women in Ireland have the second lowest participation rate in the workforce of all European countries at only 30 per cent, will the Minister agree that the provision of childcare facilities, which is in line with many of the European programmes, should be included in the national plan? If that is the case, will the Government make a provision in the national plan for additional childcare facilities to allow women to return to the workforce or to participate in training courses?
The primary gender proofing in connection with the funds is not so much at the submission to Brussels level but at the time of their administration when they are received here. I will be monitoring this to the maximum possible extent and will ensure that other Ministers who have responsibility for the distribution and administration of those funds do likewise. Procedures for the gender proofing of legislation are in place. I agree with the Deputy that the question of childcare is crucial in this issue. There may be a further question in this regard on the clár. However, this issue is receiving close attention in my Department and I am awaiting the report on that question to determine what procedures and improvements are necessary in that regard.
I agree that in regard to previous fundings, the involvement of women has been extremely disappointing. That is regrettable and it is my intention to achieve substantial improvements in the next tranche of funds to commence in 1994.
Will the Minister accept that it is the responsibility of the Government, in advance of submitting the national plan and operational programmes to Brussels, to gender proof those plans, and not at the stage when they are being administered? Is it the case that the Government does not intend to make provision for childcare facilities? Also, does the Minister accept that in the co-ordination and regulations for the Structural Funds now available emphasis must be placed on equal opportunities? Will the Minister accept if that is the case, and given that only 7 per cent of the participants in rural development courses established under the previous Structural Funds were female, that it should be gender proofed at the stage when the national plan — which is supposed to be a co-ordinated plan based on the principle of equal opportunities — is put forward? Has the Minister done this?
The question of the submission of the applications for Cohesion and Structural Funds is dealt with by the Minister for Finance. It is inappropriate to ask whether I have gender proofed those applications because they are not handled by me or my Department. I suggest the Deputy puts down a question in this regard to the Minister for Finance.
The Minister is in charge of policy in this area. He should not be handing over his responsibilities.
Childcare is a matter of concern to me and my Department. The childcare committee is due to present its report to me in October. When I receive that——
It will be too late. The applications will have already been sent.
——report I will examine what steps are possible and appropriate to have childcare facilities provided to the maximum possible extent here. This is a subject which has been sorely neglected by previous Governments.
I agree with the comments of Deputy Harney in this regard. Will the Minister confirm that the national plan has been submitted to Brussels? Also, does the Minister accept that he, as Minister for Equality and Law Reform, has collective responsibility to ensure, in so far as possible, that the proposals therein are gender proofed? Finally, in regard to the training element from the next round of Structural Funds which the Minister mentioned will he give us an assurance, in terms of the open Government we are now supposed to have, that training courses, particularly in regard to women, will not consist of morning meetings in hotels around the country where tea and biscuits are offered and social conversation takes place with no real element of any training or worthwhile activity?
Let us not tax the Minister with responsibilities that are clearly not his.
With respect, the Minister does not seem to have any responsibilities.
As I said, the details of the submissions for Structural Funds are not handled by my Department. That is a matter for the Minister for Finance. It is open to the Deputy to put down a question to the Minister for Finance——
Is anything handled by the Minister's Department?
Has the plan been submitted to Brussels yet?
——and the Deputy will receive the full information in regard to this. I accept what the Deputy says regarding the question of training for women. It is an issue to which previous Governments and previous Ministers have not, regrettably, applied their collective minds with the result that we have the lowest participation rate of women in the workforce in any EC country. That is a poor reflection on us. With the new Structural Funds this Government aims to achieve substantial improvements in that regard. I accept the kind of indicators mentioned by Deputy Kenny and will endeavour to improve them.
In relation to the disbursal of Structural Funds, will the Minister ensure there is participation of women on the various authorities and boards which will be responsible for their distribution? For example, will the Minister ensure that the 40 per cent gender balance will be part and parcel of the various structures that will emerge? At present, there is no gender balance in the structures in rural Ireland. Surely the Minister is aware that, for example, in the Leader programme few women are represented or in a position of authority. The Minister must ensure that women have a voice in these areas. In regard to the Leader and other programmes that will be established under the Structural Funds will the Minister undertake that there will be a 40 per cent minimum participation of women, to which the Government is committed so that women can make decisions with their male counterparts?
I can say with confidence and fairness that no Government in the history of this State has given the same degree of priority, care and attention as this Government to involve women in all aspects of the affairs of this country. This is highlighted by the Government decision already taken within a matter of weeks of taking office. Enterprise boards and other committees and groups have been made aware of the Government's requirements in regard to gender balance.
They have not applied them.
Everybody, including county managers, has been told to adhere as far as possible to the 40 per cent Government guidelines and if bodies fail to meet that requirement the question of legislation will be considered. Substantial improvements have been made in that regard and it is a tribute to the Government that it has accorded this issue such a high level of priority.
Does the Minister recognise there is a problem in that there is no female county manager? On that basis it is very difficult to ensure equality on various boards unless there is direct intervention by the Minister and the Government.
It is a poor reflection that there is no woman county manager, and that is a matter the Government will have to address. The Deputy referred to the appointment of county enterprise boards. My colleague, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, has told county managers that in regard to nominations from outside bodies, such as local community interests, IBEC, ICTU and so on, to county enterprise boards, the 40 per cent gender minima should be adhered to in so far as possible. That message has been sent by the Minister to county enterprise boards. We will wait to see what transpires and what nominations are made by outside community interest groups, such as IBEC and ICTU.
First, I wish to thank the Chair for his very favourable gender balance on questions today.
That position will always remain so.
Will the Minister accept there is no point waiting until October for a report on child care when money is available for that purpose? Will he agree that as Minister responsible for equality he should seek from the Minister for Finance, or the Minister of State at that Department, an allocation under the present round of Structural Funds for child care facilities so as to allow women to participate in training and return to work courses?
I assure the Deputy that all necessary measures towards that end have been and will continue to be taken by my Department and by the Minister for Finance.
