Vol. 438 No. 7
83 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Taoiseach if he will direct the Central Statistics Office to review its practice of classifying women working on farms and at home as engaged in home duties and not gainfully occupied; if his attention has been drawn to the recommendations of the first report of the fourth Joint Committee on Women's Rights in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Persons engaged in unpaid domestic work are not classified as economically active in accordance with international statistical standards. The unpaid farmwork of women is measured by the CSO in the regular series of EU farm structure surveys. The detailed results of the 1991 Census of Agriculture to be published shortly will also include estimates of the total labour input of women on farmwork whether as a holder, spouse or other family member.
I consider that these arrangements meet the joint committee's concern that recognition be given to the economic contribution of women to farming.
