Vol. 567 No. 3
22 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his proposals to ensure that women who live and work on farms are given due recognition for their input; his proposals to ensure that they are provided with opportunities to influence policy; his plans to ensure that positive female role models in agriculture are encouraged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13992/03]
An advisory committee on the role of women in agriculture, which I established, reported in September 2000 and much progress has been made in the implementation of its recommendations. The recommendations cover a wide range of policy issues encompassing rural development, access to education and training, representation of women at political organisational level, access to information technology, social inclusion, personal finance, economic and other legal issues. The report has facilitated the development of policy and encourages positive female role models in agriculture. In particular my Department chaired an interdepartmental working group on PRSI, which highlighted the option of establishing farm partnerships, which may entitle farm spouses to certain social welfare benefits, which facilitates financial recognition of their input.
Many of the report's overall findings have been incorporated into the National Plan for Women which is the responsibility of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Significant progress has been made in implementing the report's detailed recommendations and most of the recommendations falling within my Department's remit have been implemented.
