Vol. 461 No. 6
103 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education her views on form V62 female for applicants for positions under the vocational education committees; her views on whether job applicants should return this form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3444/96]
105 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that form V62 female is still in use by certain vocational education committees as a medical examiner's report for women applicants for teaching positions; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the form contains, inter alia, queries about monthly menstruation, the sanity of relatives, the cause of death of deceased family members, clearness of skin and the full use of all limbs; whether, further to her letter sent to Deputy Kathleen Lynch of 14 November 1995, a revised medical report form has been agreed in order to list the questions on the revised report; when the revised report will be put into use; whether she will instruct vocational education committees forthwith to cease using the outdated, sexist and probably illegal form V62; if she will assure candidates for posts that they are not obliged to complete form V62; her views on whether job applicants should complete form V62; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3435/96]
I accept that this form is outdated and should be replaced. For this reason, my Department reviewed the form in consultation with the chief medical officer for the Civil Service. As part of this review, the observations of the managerial authorities of vocational, community and comprehensive schools and the teacher unions were sought on the content of a revised draft form. My Department is awaiting observations from some of these representative bodies.
I expect to be in a position to proceed with the implementation of the revised form in the very near future. In the meantime, I have asked vocational education committees to refrain from using form V62.
