Vol. 541 No. 2
98 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the figures for gender balance regarding State boards or bodies; the current figures; the reason the 40% target level for gender balance has not been met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22032/01]
The Government decided in March 1993 that Ministers should endeavour to have a minimum of 40% of both men and women among the chairs of boards of State bodies and among other persons nominated by Ministers to State bodies under their aegis. The Government further decided that all Ministers should advise bodies nominating persons to boards under their aegis of the Government's gender balance policy and ask them formally to follow a similar practice. The Government decision was issued to all Departments as guidelines, which were further extended in March 1995 to include advisory committees, visiting committees, committees of a temporary nature, etc. Each Minister is responsible for implementing the Government's gender balance policy in his or her own area. My Department monitors the progress in appointing women to State boards on a quarterly basis and constantly keeps the situation under review.
Substantial progress has been made since 1992 in relation to gender balance on boards. Women's representation in all appointments, including external nominations from nominating bodies, increased from 15% in 1992 to 28% at 30 June this year and from 17% to 35% of ministerial nominations in the same period. Women now comprise 19% of chairs of boards. With regard to appointments made in the first six months of 2001, 38% of the persons nominated by Ministers were women, while 30% of those nominated by other bodies were women.
One of the reasons for the imbalance between men and women on State boards is that women have not yet reached top management levels in significant numbers in many areas. Recent research on gender equality in the Civil Service demonstrates this. This research report stated that women, compared with men, can expect to enter at a lower level and progress more slowly through the grading structures. Much work remains to be done to ensure that women achieve equality.
While significant progress has been made towards the target of a minimum of 40% of both men and women on State boards, we are anxious to close the remaining 5% deficit in ministerial nominations and 12% deficit in overall nominations. To this end we intend to bring proposals to Cabinet shortly.
Membership of State Boards end June, 2001
|
Department |
Totalservingmembership |
Women |
% of Total |
Serving Govt./MinisterialAppoint-ments |
Women |
% of Total |
Total MaleChairpersons |
Total FemaleChairpersons |
Female %of TotalChairs |
|
Agriculture, Food and Rural Development |
91 |
20 |
22% |
62 |
16 |
26% |
6 |
1 |
14% |
|
Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & the Islands |
228 |
83 |
36% |
155 |
68 |
44% |
12 |
6 |
33% |
|
Defence |
59 |
17 |
29% |
34 |
7 |
21% |
3 |
0 |
0% |
|
Education & Science |
431 |
134 |
31% |
113 |
43 |
38% |
14 |
6 |
30% |
|
Enterprise, Trade & Employment |
695 |
175 |
25% |
112 |
38 |
34% |
38 |
9 |
19% |
|
Environment & Local Government |
206 |
63 |
31% |
137 |
50 |
36% |
14 |
4 |
22% |
|
Finance |
26 |
3 |
12% |
17 |
2 |
12% |
3 |
0 |
0% |
|
Foreign Affairs |
63 |
29 |
46% |
25 |
11 |
44% |
2 |
2 |
50% |
|
Health & Children |
748 |
244 |
33% |
328 |
140 |
43% |
36 |
7 |
16% |
|
Justice, Equality & Law Reform |
357 |
104 |
29% |
307 |
98 |
32% |
15 |
3 |
17% |
|
Department |
Totalservingmembership |
Women |
% of Total |
Serving Govt./MinisterialAppoint-ments |
Women |
% of Total |
Total MaleChairpersons |
Total FemaleChairpersons |
Female %of TotalChairs |
|
Marine & Natural Resources |
466 |
70 |
15% |
237 |
61 |
26% |
30 |
3 |
9% |
|
Public Enterprise |
110 |
24 |
22% |
80 |
19 |
24% |
11 |
0 |
0% |
|
Social, Community & Family Affairs |
47 |
19 |
40% |
32 |
15 |
47% |
2 |
1 |
33% |
|
Taoiseach |
103 |
36 |
35% |
15 |
8 |
53% |
2 |
2 |
50% |
|
Tourism, Sport & Recreation |
37 |
14 |
38% |
27 |
8 |
30% |
2 |
0 |
0% |
|
Total |
3667 |
1035 |
28% |
1681 |
584 |
35% |
190 |
44 |
19% |
I put it to the Minister of State that the situation has deteriorated in the past year. In September of last year, the figure was 29% while it has now dropped to 28%. How can she, as Minister of State with responsibility for equality issues, stand over that situation? How can she stand over a situation where the Government has made no progress? We have gone backwards in gender equality on State boards. How can we take seriously the Taoiseach's announcement last week regarding targets for achieving greater participation of women at senior levels in the Civil Service if these targets are practically being ignored by Government and are not being reached, despite the fact that Ministers have direct control over nominations to State boards whereas control in relation to the Civil Service is indirect? Given that the targets for membership of State boards are not taken seriously, how can we be expected to take the Taoiseach's announcement last week seriously? Was that simply a pious platitude in the lead up to a general election?
It must be recognised that 35% of nominations to State boards are made by Ministers and they do not control nominations made by other organisations.
They are in control of some nominations.
We have been saying for some time that we want an improvement in the figures. This policy was successful initially in the early to mid-1990s but it needs a further injection in terms of progress. The Minister has stated in reply to a number of parliamentary questions that proposals will be brought to Government shortly to strengthen this policy and we would be glad to consider any suggestions Members have in this regard.
I refer to the Taoiseach's announcement on the Civil Service. It is important to recognise that if women do not reach middle management they will not proceed to senior management positions and, therefore, the proposal to appoint women to one third of the vacancies at assistant principal level within the next five years in the Civil Service is important. It is a positive target which would allow women to attain senior positions and allow them to be nominated to State boards.
When there was a Minister for Equality and Law Reform in the Cabinet the 40% target was rigorously implemented. It is within the powers of the Ministers at the Department to implement the target if they want. Is the Minister of State satisfied that her senior colleague is taking this issue seriously given that it is the Department's job to monitor this policy? Does she agree that if there was a Minister for equality in the Cabinet, the gender balance policy would be fully implemented?
Will the Minister of State explain why the Cabinet mechanism of equality proofing is failing despite a Government commitment that women would comprise 40% of the membership of State boards? Appointments were made to a number of boards last year and Deputy O'Sullivan and others pointed out that the gender balance target had not been met. Why is there not effective monitoring of this Government policy at Cabinet level? What does the Minister of State and her senior colleague intend to do in this regard? What action has been taken to improve the guidelines. Who has been consulted in regard to them?
The policy was introduced in the early 1990s and there was never a mechanism whereby the Government would be informed about the overall picture in terms of appointments.
Yes, there was.
One of the Minister's suggestions is the provision of direct reporting to Cabi net as distinct from issuing statistics which are published quarterly and are provided to Members through replies to parliamentary questions and other methods. He has made other suggestions which have not yet been put to Cabinet to strengthen this policy and bridge the 5% gap in ministerial nominations of women to State boards. Nominations by outside bodies must also be examined because there is a 12% deficit in this area which needs to be addressed. I assure the House that the Minister has solid recommendations which will be put before the Cabinet shortly to address both those facets of the policy. There will be then a fresh injection of enthusiasm to deal with these aspects of the policy when nominating women to State boards and to achieve the 40% target at all levels.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
