Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Policies.

Helen Keogh

Question:

36 Ms Keogh asked the Taoiseach the nominating bodies to each board under the aegis of his 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. [6964/97]

The Taoiseach

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following Schedule.

Schedule

Area Development Management Ltd.

ADM Ltd., is the independent intermediary company established by the European Commission and the Irish Government to implement Subprogramme 2 of the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development.

Nominations to the Board of ADM are made by the social partners, community interests, including partnership companies and community groups and public service agencies. The current board members of ADM and their nominating bodies are as follows:

Nominated by IBEC: 2

Nominated by Enterprise Trust: 1

Nominated by Community Workers Co-operative: 1

Nominated by City and County Managers Association: 1

Nominated by Farming Organisations: 1

Nominated by Irish Rural Link: 1

Nominated by ICTU: 2

Nominated by Rural Partnerships: 1

Nominated by Central Review Committee: 1

Nominated by Business Innovation Centres: 1

Nominated by Community Development Projects: 1

There are three vacancies on the ADM board at present which will be filled by one nominee each from:

—Dublin Partnerships

—Other Urban Partnerships

—ADM funded Community Groups.

The gender balance on the board of ADM at present is 38 per cent female, 62 per cent male. However, three positions remain vacant at present.

Promotion of gender equality is an important objective of the sub-programme implemented by ADM. In this context, when inviting board nominations ADM informs nominating bodies of Government policy in relation to gender balance on boards.

National Economic and Social Council and National Statistics Board.

Nominations to the board of NESC and NSB are made by the Taoiseach and the Social Partners. The remaining members are ex-officio appointees. The current board members of NESC and NSB and their nominating bodies are as follows:

National Economic and Social Council

Government Nominees: 9

Nominated from Government Departments (Ex-Officio): 5

Nominated by the Irish Business and Employers Confederation: 5

Nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions: 6

Nominated by the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society: 1

Nominated by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association: 2

Nominated by Macra na Feirme: 1

Nominated by the Construction Industry Federation: 1

Nominated by the Irish Farmers' Association: 2

Observer from European Communities: 1

The Secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach is always Chairperson of NESC.

National Statistics Board

Government Nominees: 2

Nominated by the Irish Business and Employer Confederation: 1

Nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions: 1

Nominated by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association: 1

Government Departments (Ex-Officio): 3

The gender balance at present on both NESC and the NSB is 38 per cent female, 62 per cent male. When inviting board nominations to NESC and NSB nominating bodies are informed and asked to observe Government policy in relation to gender balance on boards.

Western Development Commission

The members of the Western Development commission were appointed by the Taoiseach with due regard for regional, sectoral and equality balance. The gender balance of the Commission is 43 per cent female, 57 per cent male.

The Law Reform Commission

The Law Reform Commission was established by the Law Reform Commission Act, 1975. Under the Act, which specifies the qualifications of the appointees, appointments to the five positions of Commissioner are made by the Government. There is currently only one Commissioner — Anthony Hederman, President — and four vacancies have yet to be filled.

Helen Keogh

Question:

37 Ms Keogh asked the Taoiseach the mechanisms used by his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [6996/97]

The Taoiseach

The Government Procedure Instructions, issued and managed by the Government Secretariat at my Department, require that memoranda for Government must set out the probable impact on women of any proposed policy change.

A significant part of the work of my Department relates to the co-ordination of Government policy, including relations with the social partners. In this respect, the implementation of Partnership 2000 and of the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development are major responsibilities of my Department. The pursuit of gender equity is of central importance to both. Through this process, and through the general co-ordinating functions exercised by my Department, the relevant officers are fully aware of the importance the Government attaches to gender equity.

Helen Keogh

Question:

38 Ms Keogh asked the Taoiseach the initiatives, if any, taken by his 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 his Department in each of the years 1995 and 1996; and the amount of that budget exclusive of direct staffing and overhead costs. [7012/97]

The Taoiseach

The most significant initiative taken by my Department was the broadening out of the social partnership process to include the National Womens Council, who played a significant role in the negotiation of Partnership 2000. In the appointment of members to the National Economic and Social Council in 1995, the 40 per cent gender balance was observed.

The promotion of gender equality is one of the objectives in Subprogramme 2 of the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development 1994-99. Area Development Management (ADM) Ltd., is an independent intermediary company established by the European Commission and the Irish Government to implement the Subprogramme.

Women benefit directly or indirectly under all measures in the Subprogramme. Some 71 independent local development groups — 38 partnerships and 33 community groups — nationally are supported under the Operational Programme based on ADM's assessment of their integrated local development action plans. Women are a key target group. In 1995 more than half of the beneficiaries under the Programme were women. Some 7,500 women benefited under ESF measures and over 1,000 benefited under European Regional Development Fund measures. In addition, at a central level, ADM carried out a consultation study in 1995 which included people from a range of partnerships. This resulted in a report published in 1996 entitled — Towards Gender Equality in Integrated Local Development. The cost was £11,407. In 1996 ADM contracted the Community Action Network to create awareness of gender equality in partnerships and community groups at a cost of £30,000.

In respect of initiatives taken directly by my Department, the Government's Famine Commemoration Committee made a grant payment in 1995 of £15,000 available to the Irish women's archive to assist with their exhibition on Women, Famine and Emigration.

The budget for my Department in each of the years 1995 and 1996 was £151,240,000¹ and £19,834,000 respectively. The amount of the budget, exclusive of direct staffing and overhead costs, in each of the years was £147,102,000¹ and £15,285,000 respectively.

1 The significantly higher figure in respect of the 1995 budget contains an allocation of £137,600,000 for the Community Employment Programme which was co-founded by this Department in 1995. The Programme was taken over by the Department of Enterprise and Employment in 1996.