Vol. 466 No. 6
12 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform whether he has completed the comprehensive survey of the relevant public sector employment intended to update the position outlined in his Department's 1993 report on a survey of equal opportunities in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12009/96]
As the Minister indicated to Deputy Keogh on 2 May last, initial contacts have been made with major Departments on a follow up survey to his Department's 1993 report on equal opportunities in the public sector.
The high response to the survey reported in 1993 followed from careful preparation and close liaison with the main parent Departments involved. In preparing for this survey, he has asked that every effort be made to have included the equal opportunities position in other public sector employments not previously surveyed. This will involve preliminary preparation of appropriate data banks in such sectors. In addition, he has asked for information on the responses to the Programme for Competitiveness and Work request for the introduction of equal opportunities policies and programmes in all public sector employments.
He welcomes the recent report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Women's Rights entitled, Women in Management in Local Administration. His officials are examining this work in the context of reviewing the survey needs for the follow-up to the 1993 report.
When consultations with the various Departments have been progressed more fully, he expects to be in a position to indicate more clearly the likely timescale for the carrying out of the survey.
The Minister could have admitted to part of the difficulty in appointing women to senior positions. I tabled that question last March but there has not been much further progress in preparing an update of the 1993 report. If up-to-date information is not available it will be difficult for people to make a proper case for the appointment of women to senior positions. I am disappointed the Minister's Department has not made any progress on the survey of equal opportunities in the public sector. It is crucial that such information is readily available. The Department of Equality and Law Reform should have that type of data available on a consistent basis. Computer technology should make it feasible to update such figures at least on a monthly basis.
I share the Deputy's frustration in this regard. Requests for such information from line Departments to bodies such as the Garda, the prison service or local authorities do not always get a speedy response. In wearing my Minister for Finance hat, I will do everything possible to facilitate the speedy gathering of such information.
I welcome the Minister's final comments, but will he convey them to the Minister for Equality and Law Reform. These issues are frequently sidelined and unless a constant effort is made to ensure this type of information is updated it tends to be forgotten. Will the Minister double his efforts in this regard?
I reaffirm my support for the principle of equal opportunities and the positive advancement of promotional opportunities for women in the public service, which is the poorer for the lack of their participation. I will speak directly to the Minister for Equality and Law Reform to ascertain how I can assist in getting this information as soon as possible.
In terms of equal opportunities, I ask the Minister to include people with disabilities because it is too easy for those people to be forgotten. The 3 per cent target in the Civil Service has been met to a large extent. Perhaps the Minister will reconsider the question of employment for people with disabilities. The targets are far from achieved in the area of local administration and there is much to be done in that regard. I ask the Minister to particularly consider the position of women in terms of promotional opportunities within the wider public sector and to assist people with disabilities, not only in gaining employment but in terms of promotion.
I will certainly have those people included. There are questions on today's Order Paper about people with disabilities.
