Vol. 439 No. 5
12 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education the progress which has been made with regard to achievement of the 40 per cent female representation on the boards of the regional technical colleges; the number of colleges where the quota has been met; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
25 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education the action, if any, she intends to take in order to ensure an equitable representation of women on the governing bodies of regional technical colleges; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
65 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education the action, if any, she intends to take in order to ensure an equitable representation of women on the governing bodies of regional technical colleges; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 25 and 65 together.
Guidelines were issued to vocational education commitees, who make recommendations to me on appointments to governing bodies, to ensure that a minimum representation of 40 per cent of both men and women would be achieved on governing bodies for regional technical colleges from 1 January 1994.
Not all the vocational education committees have submitted complete lists of recommendations. Of the five vocational education committees who have submitted a full list of recommendations, none have reached the required gender balance. Of the five vocational education committees who have submitted a partial list of recommendations only one has exceeded 40 per cent female representation. One vocational education committee has as yet to submit its list of recommendations.
I am very disappointed with the recommendations I have received to date. The Deputies will be aware that I have returned their recommendations to most vocational education committees requesting them to reconsider them in light of the inadequacy of the proposed representation of women.
While I am anxious to appoint governing bodies as soon as possible I am very unhappy with the present proposals from the vocational education committees given my statutory obligation to ensure gender balance and the clearly set out policy of Government on this matter.
I am actively considering the most appropriate way to proceed at this stage and I will shortly be making an announcement.
Does the Minister accept that she has power under section 6 (8) of the Regional Technical Colleges Act to make the appointments? If the vocational education committees recommendations do not comply with the 40 per cent requirement will she appoint governing bodies based on that quota?
I presume the Deputy is referring to section 6 (5) of the Act which specifies that the Minister shall have regard to the extent to which each sex is represented and shall ensure an appropriate gender balance is determined from time to time. In this regard attention is drawn to a Government decision to have a minimum representation of 40 per cent of both men and women on State boards within four years from March 1993. The vocational education committees must ensure that Government policy is adhered to in making recommendations for appointments to the new governing bodies. I have returned the recommendations to the vocational education committees and have drawn their attention to the section. However, the response of some colleges has not been to submit recommendations meeting the gender quota but rather to advise me that there may be a legal case pending against me. It is a lively issue and one on which I shall make an announcement shortly.
What does the Minister intend to do? It is up to her to give leadership and not let the matter drift.
I assure the House I will not let the matter drift. There are different options open to me. It would be helpful if Deputies who have knowledge of vocational education committees and who are committed to securing gender balance, relayed to those committees the seriousness of the matter and the seriousness with which I treat my statutory obligations to ensure proper representation on the bodies.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): Carlow County Council has 20 members, two of whom are women. This represents 10 per cent. Only one woman on the vocational education committee retired. Is it fair that Carlow Regional College should be left without a management board because a woman cannot be appointed? It might make more sense if the Minister had waited until after the next election when perhaps there would be a greater number of women members.
I do not accept that as a logical plea. Carlow has 19 nominations and two are women. This represents 11 per cent of the total. It is within the power of the vocational education committee to make appointments. We are talking about 17 ordinary members, six nominated by the vocational education committee, two members of the academic staff, one member of the nonacademic staff, two registered students of the college and one member nominated by ICTU. It is within the power of any vocational education committee to invite not only elected members but other members. Unless everyone considers the matter in this light things will not change and I am determined that they will change.
Would the Minister accept that the delay to appoint governing bodies, particularly in Letterkenny and Dundalk, is giving rise to serious difficulty? Does she accept she has power to appoint the members of the governing body? If the vocational education committees persist in submitting recommendations which do not comply with the 40 per cent quota will she, as the Minister with the power to do so, appoint governing bodies which comply with the quota requirement?
A vacuum will not develop. The cases of Letterkenny and Dundalk are outside the remit of these questions. The challenge that faces me is to elicit a response from the vocational education committees to whom I have returned the recommendations. I am governed not only by section 6 of the Act but by the Government's requirement that we would have a gender quota of 40 per cent.
I am sick and tired of the Minister not answering questions.
If the Minister is going to sit around and wait for something to happen nothing will be done. Is she prepared to give a time scale within which, if the vocational education committees do not respond, she will exercise her power in relation to this issue?
In order to satisfy myself and give people time to respond — we presume nothing will happen——
We know nothing will happen.
I asked the vocational education committees to reconsider their position and I am looking at my options. Time will run out. I have contacted the vocational education committees and asked them to look positively at the matter and am awaiting their reply. In the meantime, I am looking at the other options available to me.
The Minister should let them know who is boss.
