Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Nov 2002

Vol. 558 No. 2

Written Answers. - Equality Issues.

Eamon Ryan

Question:

104 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures he intends taking to address the stark imbalance of the evidence from the Central Statistics Office report, Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2002, that shows women's earnings in manufacturing industry being 68% of men's earnings. [23823/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):

The Government is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity, one element of which is the creation of an environment where women achieve their full potential. It is therefore a matter of concern to me that women continue to earn less on average than men. However, it is worth pointing out in relation to the recently published CSO statistical yearbook for 2002 that women's average hourly earnings are 76% of men's, and perhaps more importantly that the manufacturing sector is not representative of the economy as a whole.

The ESRI report, How Unequal? Men and Women in the Irish Labour Market, published in 2000, estimated the pay gap in 1997 at 15.5% for the whole economy, based on average hourly earnings. Arising from the publication of the ESRI report, a consultative group chaired by my Department was established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The group comprises representatives of the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Finance; the CSO; the social partners; and the Equality Authority. The group is currently finalising a report to Government with proposals to address the issues raised in the ESRI report. The Government looks forward to receiving the group's report and is committed to making progress in this important area.