The human resources development services side of the centre for management, organisation and development within my Department is involved in facilitating a women managers' network. The network runs training events and seminars on issues of concern to women at middle and senior levels in the Civil Service such as managing job-sharing, assertiveness, making links with other women's networks, influencing skills, equality and the Strategic Management Initiative and gender and power in organisations. These events address women managers' training demands as articulated by the members and attract new members to each event. In 1997, the network, which has been in existence for a number of years, will continue to develop its role in the facilitation of the development and training of women managers in the Civil Service.
Because this network is one of a series facilitated by the centre for management, organisation and development, there is no specific budget allocated to it. While the amount of money spent on the network is relatively modest it has proven to be a most effective forum in which issues of specific concern to women in the Civil Service are promoted and addressed. There is a continuing and increasing interest in the work of the network and my Department will continue to actively participate in its activities.