Deirdre Clune
Question:340 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which he intends to consult women in preparing the national plan for women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31720/01]
Written Answers. - National Plan for Women.
The draft national plan for women, 2001-05, was launched by the Minister of State with responsibility for equality, Deputy Mary Wallace, on 16 October 2001. This publication is designed to guide and inform the consultation process now under way.
The consultation process is being managed by a steering committee chaired by my Department with representatives from a range of women's groups and including the social partners and other Departments. My Department, with the guidance of the steering committee, has made more than £200,000 – 253,947 – in funding available to 200 groups around the country to facilitate them in disseminating information, holding workshops or discussion groups to assist them in formulating and submitting views on the draft national plan for women.
The consultation process will be as comprehensive and wide ranging as possible. All relevant interests will be consulted, including women's groups, other non-governmental organisations, NGOs, the social partners, other stakeholders, women generally, Departments and other statutory bodies.
The objectives of the consultation process are to inform women of Government commitments under the 12 critical areas of concern of the UN Platform for Action and Beijing Declaration, 1995, assemble proposals on the ways and means of measuring progress on the advancement of women, and articulate a vision of how these proposals might be addressed in the future.
Members of the public, organisations directly involved in women's issues, the social partners or any organisation or group which has a view about how best to promote the advancement of women in society and how progress should be measured, are invited to submit their views. A successful consultation process will enable the Government to work in partnership to develop and implement a meaningful vision for the future rooted in women's actual concerns and aspirations.
The consultation process will culminate in a number of public fora spread throughout the country in spring 2002. It is hoped to submit the draft final plan to Government for approval and publication as soon as possible thereafter.