Jimmy Deenihan
Question:135 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his plans to encourage the involvement of women in agriculture. [20183/04]
View answerTuesday, 6 July 2004
Questions (108)
Written answers
In leading the development of Irish agriculture my objectives include the retention of the maximum number of farm families and ensuring that farming is an attractive career option for young people generally. Policies pursued by my Department are geared towards achieving these objectives and are administered in a gender-neutral fashion.
In relation to the recognition of the role of women in agriculture, I established an advisory committee, which reported in September 2000. The advisory committee's report contained 36 recommendations in total, covering a broad range of policy and operational areas, relating to 19 Departments and agencies. These areas were: statistical evaluation of women farmers; employment and training; information technology; social inclusion; representation, and personal finance-legal issues.
While recognising the contribution of women to Irish agriculture, it is clear from an analysis of the recommendations that the central concerns identified by the advisory committee related to issues affecting women in rural communities generally.
Notwithstanding the change of remit of my Department in 2002, my Department pursued the Advisory Committee's recommendations and produced a comprehensive progress report on the recommendations. This indicates that the recommendations directed at my Department have been implemented as far as practicable and that the broad range of issues raised by the Advisory Committee have been taken in to account by relevant government departments and agencies. I have arranged for a copy of the progress report to be sent to the Deputy.
Issues which may arise in the future regarding the role of women in rural communities can be pursued through the National Rural Development Forum, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and meets twice a year in open forum. Gender equality issues can be taken up with the gender equality unit in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
One specific step which would help to encourage the involvement of women in agriculture is more female representation on the boards of state bodies under the aegis of my Department.
In this regard, all of the female appointments made since 1997 have been at my sole discretion and I am disappointed that the farming organisations have not used their nomination rights to nominate women to serve on these boards.