Vol. 441 No. 3
98 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will carry out an investigation into the situation where Ireland has only ten women surgeons of whom seven are in permanent positions; if he will further investigate the situation where of the last 87 appointments in Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, only two were women, and the steps, if any, he proposes to take to ensure a gender balance in the area of consultant appointments.
The latest consultant manpower survey carried out by Comhairle na nOspidéal on 1 January 1994 indicates that there is a total of 236 Surgical and 79 Obstetric/ Gynaecology permanent consultant posts filled in the public health services of which seven (3 per cent) and two (3 per cent) are filled by women respectively. Of the overall total of permanent consultant posts, 1,065, some 172 (16 per cent) are filled by women.
While this represents some progress in achieving a more equitable male/female ratio in overall consultant appointments, it is apparent that more progress needs to be made in these particular specialties if this goal is to be achieved.
The role of my Department in securing such progress is in monitoring adherence to equal opportunities legislation in relation to recruitment and selection procedures and in encouraging the professional bodies and employers to ensure that any perceived obstacles to progress are removed. I am also cognisant of the recommendations of the report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women in relation to improving the rate of participation of women at senior management level, including consultant level, in the health services. An advisory committee on women's health which has been established in my Department and the collaborative study group which is examining the distribution of medical manpower in acute hospitals is giving consideration to this matter.
