Vol. 545 No. 2
39 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date in the implementation of the recently launched Civil Service Gender Equality Policy; the steps being taken to implement the objectives of the policy in his Department and the public service generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29967/01]
The gender equality policy restates the strong commitment of the Civil Service to gender equality. As a first step, the policy requires individual Departments to set strategic objectives and equality goals for increasing women's representation at all levels, but in particular at the higher management grades where women are under-represented. This is being done in departmental strategy statements.
To focus the policy, the Government has set a target for the key assistant principal grade. Departments must work to ensure that, by 2005, 33% of assistant principal posts are filled by women. At present, women fill only 27% of these posts. The aim is to ensure there will be more women who can be promoted to senior levels.
The policy also requires Departments to set goals to deal with obstacles to career progression for women at all levels. Initiatives will be taken in the main human resource areas.
The equality unit in my Department will support other Departments with the implementation of the policy. The unit will meet Departments to assist them in introducing the policy. The aim is to exchange ideas and to help each other in what needs to be done. The unit will prepare a short report outlining what has been done and suggesting the further steps that might be taken.
In the Department of Finance, targets have been set which, over the next five years and subject to the number of vacancies arising, should see the representation of women increasing from 28% to close to 35% in the assistant principal grade and from 14% to close to 25% at the principal grade. A policy is being prepared for the Department which will address a wide range of equality issues.
