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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Policies.

Helen Keogh

Question:

127 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for justice the nominating bodies to each board under the aegis of her Department; the number of seats to which each of these bodies nominate; and the guidelines or instructions given to nominating bodies to assist in achieving gender balance in line with Government policy. [6967/97]

Helen Keogh

Question:

128 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Justice the mechanisms used by her Department to ensure that policies, programmes and decisions are proofed to assess their impact on women; the training available to those officials responsible for gender proofing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6999/97]

Helen Keogh

Question:

129 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Justice the initiatives, if any, taken by her Department in 1995 and 1996 which were targeted at women; the budget allocated to each initiative; the actual amount spent on each; the budget for her Department in each of the years 1995 and 1996; and the amount of that budget exclusive of direct staffing and overhead costs. [7015/97]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 128 and 129 together.

I am very conscious of all gender related issues in my Department and of the need to continue to implement all aspects of Government policy in this regard.
All proposals which I submit to Government for consideration include an assessment of their impact on women and all senior management in my Department have been made aware of Government policy on gender related issues in the context of the policies, programmes and decisions implemented by them.
All policies, programmes and decisions pertaining to An Garda Síochána are, for example, specifically proofed to assess their impact on women. At a detailed training level, training staff at the Garda College gender proof their material and continually revise and update this aspect of training. The most recent update has reflected the proceedings of an EU-funded training seminar under the "New Opportunities for Women" initiative.
As regards the question of the gender balancing of boards under the aegis of my Department, my own nominations account for most of the board members involved. In this regard, I am committed to complying, where possible, with the policy standard of a minimum of 40 per cent of both men and women among the members.
The position in relation to the members nominated by other authorities or bodies is set out in the following table. Gender balance from organisations outside the aegis of my Department is more difficult to achieve and the need for specific expertise is often an influencing factor.

Name of Board

Nominating Authority or Body

Number of Members

Superior Courts Rules Committee

Chief Justice

2

President of the High Court

2

Bar Council

2

Law Society

2

Circuit Court Rules Committee

President of the Circuit Court

2

Bar Council

2

Law Society

2

District Court Rules Committee

Bar Council

1

Law Society

1

Registration of Title Rules Committee

Bar Council

1

Law Society

1

Judicial Appointments Advisory Board

Bar Council

1

Law Society

1

Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

Law Society

10

Irish Legal Terms Advisory Committee

Government

10

Bar Council

1

Law Society

1

Garda Promotion Advisory Council

Commissioner, Garda Síochána

9

Garda Síochána Complaints Board

Commissioner, Garda Síochána

1

The Deputy also raises the question of departmental initiatives targeted specifically at women. The nature of the Department's role is such that initiatives tend to focus on a broad range of community groupings and do not necessarily fall into gender-based divisions. Notwithstanding this, a number of initiatives in my Department have focused on women's issues and include the following:

Date

Initiative

Funding

£

November 1995

Conference jointly hosted by the Department of Justice and Women's Aid on the subject of developing an effective response to violence against women in intimate relationships with men.

4,850

November-December 1996

“Springboard Programme”; a Personal Development programme specially created to help women achieve their full potential and which was organised exclusively for female staff in non-managerial grades in the Courts.

2,000

1995-96

The Department of Justice funded the Report of the Working Party on the Legal and Judicial Process for Victims of Sexual and Other Crimes of Violence Against Women and Children.

20,902

March 1996

Study of Irish Female Prisoners.

1,430

In addition, the Irish Association for Victim Support received a grant of £130,000 from my Department in 1995. The figure increased to £180,000 in 1996 and has been further increased to £280,000 this year. Also my Department paid a grant of £53,000 to Muintir na Tíre in 1996. Both these organisations have been to the forefront in working on measures for crime prevention and working with victims of crime, many of whom are women.
As regards the overall budgetary figures for my Department, details of the annual budget for the years 1995 and 1996, including a breakdown of voted expenditure between staffing, administration and other costs in the six Votes for which I have responsibility, are set out in the annual estimates volumes for those years and I direct the Deputy to that source.
I am committed to the concept of equality throughout the full range of activities in my Department and will continue to ensure that Government policy in this regard is maintained.
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