Vol. 471 No. 3
3 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his views on the social problem involving the failure of young men to participate in the employment market on equal terms with young women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20700/96]
4 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform whether an agreement has been reached by the Government to trade-off the attainment of equality for women in employment against the need to provide employment for young males or any other socially disadvantaged groups. [20705/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
There is no question of the Government trading off the objective of attainment of equality for women in employment against the need to provide employment for young males or any other socially disadvantaged group. I have already presented to this House in recent weeks an Employment Equality Bill which maintains a strong focus on prohibiting discrimination in employment based on sex. While the Bill also seeks to prohibit discrimination in employment on grounds of age and other non gender characteristics. it does not provide exclusions from the commitment to prohibit discrimination based on sex to provide employment for young males, or any other socially disadvantaged groups.
The Bill prohibits discrimination in employment against young males on equal terms with its protection of young females. Existing employment equality legislation in Ireland and Europe has already been successfully applied to protect men from discrimination in employment as well as women.
The particular phenomenon of young, unqualified males failing to gain access to the labour force to an extent reflects the higher achievement of young women in education. The 1995 ESRI annual survey of school leavers shows that some 64 per cent of school leavers with no qualifications or minimum qualifications were boys. Both the Department of Education and the Department of Enterprise and Employment are tackling this problem through the Government's Youthreach programme. I understand the Department of Education has increased its capacity under this programme from 600 places in 1989 to 2,000 places today and a further 450 places are planned. FÁS also provides 1,800 places on Youthreach and in addition provides other developmental training places geared to the needs of young unqualified persons.
I endorse these necessary actions aimed at improving both the educational qualifications and labour market potential of young people. The initiatives do not, however, dissipate the thrust of actions aimed at the broader sex inequalities of the market place which the Employment Equality Bill is intended to address and which continue to receive attention by the education and training authorities.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Concern was expressed about remarks made in this House about the position of young men and there must be an understanding of their position. Despite the fact that the performance of girls in examinations and so on is better than that of boys, many women are in low paid, low status occupations. What is the Minister's view of the fact that there is 50 per cent more unemployment among young men than young women? How was that figure arrived at and what is his understanding of the reasons for that? Since the performance of girls is better than that of boys, why are so many women in low paid, low status occupations?
The Taoiseach recently answered questions on this matter. I am responsible for equality in the broad sense as between men and women, boys and girls and disadvantaged groups in society. The Employment Equality Bill, Second Stage of which has been passed in this House, is a broadly based measure which seeks to address access to employment and promotion in employment as between men and women. That is the objective of my Department and will continue to be so. There are reports on these matters and Deputies may raise questions with the appropriate Departments. I indicated the important steps being taken, particularly by the Departments of Education and Enterprise and Employment, to secure greater balance and to open up training and educational opportunities for young males and young females. Efforts in that regard have substantially increased and will continue.
I asked the Minister whether an agreement has been reached by the Government to trade off the attainment of equality for women in employment against the need to provide employment for young males or any other socially disadvantaged groups. Women's organisations expressed concern about a statement by the Taoiseach during a meeting with the social partners at the end of October that gender equality requires continued advances for women. I welcome that statement and the fact that the issue is on the table for discussion by the social partners. The Taoiseach however went on to say: "...but it also involves major changes in job prospects and the social role of men, an issue that has not yet been addressed in any serious way". The problem arose because of the "but", if the Taoiseach had left out that word people would not have been upset. There is major discrimination against women which must be addressed and there are separate problems for young men. Is the Minister in favour of including on the live register women in the home who are anxious to return to work? This is a fundamental issue.
This is a very long question.
What is the Minister's view on that matter?
The latter question is a separate matter which is appropriate to a different Minister. Numerous questions were put to the Taoiseach about his statement and he dealt with them at some length in the House on 30 October last — I refer Deputies to his clarification and explanations on that statement. On whether the Government has agreed to trade off the attainment of equality for women, I do not know whether that question is seriously put. I assure Deputy Woods that there is no agreement for any such trade off. The Government's policy in this regard is as enunciated in the Employment Equality Bill which is before the House.
Will the Minister agree that even with legislation in place old attitudes die hard? Is he aware that women's organisations in particular understood the Taoiseach — it is unfortunate that this message may have been received by them — to mean that as a result of an increasing number of women in the workplace there is less work for young men, in other words that gender equity has resulted in fewer places for young men? I would like reassurance from the Minister in that regard. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding, but that is the message received by women's organisations.
The Taoiseach clarified his position when questioned about this matter in the House on 30 October. If Deputies want further clarification on the Taoiseach's statement in the context of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work they may put questions to him. As far as Government policy is concerned, that is reflected in the Employment Equality Bill in which equal opportunities for the sexes is spelt out in great detail. That is not just equality for women but also for men, people with disabilities and anti-discrimination for employment on the grounds of race, colour, age and membership of the travelling community as given in great detail in the Bill. That is the legislative measure but I agree with Deputy Keogh that old attitudes die hard. They are still there and more than legislation is required. We must all address those old attitudes in our own way. They die hard but they are dying. It is up to the Government of the day to give a lead and this Government is doing that by bringing in the Employment Equality Bill and providing protection for the first time in the employment context for disadvantaged groups who had never been given that legislative protection in the history of the State.
Will the Minister confirm that when the Employment Equality Bill is enacted women in the home who want to avail of training and community employment schemes and to be included on the register of the unemployed will have the right to do so without being regarded as dependants of their husbands and being excluded on those grounds? At present they are allowed into pubs, restaurants and supermarkets but they are not allowed into this area.
The Deputy is taxing the Minister with responsibilities that are clearly not his.
It is a matter of equality and discrimination in principle. They are currently being discriminated against. How that is being done is another question but it is clearly a matter of gender equality. The Minister has told us that in general terms he believes it will be sorted out by the Employment Equality Bill and I am asking if that is true.
It does seem to impinge on the area of the Department of Social Welfare.
It does and the Deputy can put a question to the Minister for Social Welfare on that.
It also affects the Department of Enterprise and Employment. It affects many Departments.
Deputy Woods asked about the effects of the Bill. The Deputy knows very well what is in that Bill as he has gone through it with great care and made an erudite speech on Second Stage.
Regarding schemes of other Ministers, the Deputy should table a question on that to the Ministers for Finance or Social Welfare as the case may be.
