Niamh Smyth
Question:70. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the work of the working group on women in agriculture. [8277/24]
View answerThursday, 22 February 2024
Questions (70)
Written answers
Advancing the role of women in the agriculture sector has been a key priority of mine since becoming Minister. The organisation of the national dialogue on women in agriculture last year and the subsequent publication of the Action Plan on 31st January were two major milestones in progressing this aim.
The Action Plan has been compiled from the outcomes and recommendations put forward at the Dialogue covering a wide range of areas from education and awareness to financial and Legal issues, leadership, visibility and sustainability.
The newly established Women in Agriculture Working Group is comprised of a range of representatives from across the sector including the Women in Agriculture Stakeholders Group, Dairy Women Ireland, Young female farmers, Teagasc, the AgDIF Forum, an agri-solicitor, Irish Forestry Owners, the marine sector as well as my Department who will facilitate and guide the implementation of the plan.
The group held its first meeting to coincide with the launch of the plan where lead action responsibility and desired outcomes were agreed. While it is very early days yet, initial steps have been taken on several of the actions including;
- Female farmer representative bodies are collaborating on delivering a series of events/webinars as outlined in Action 1
- Invitations have issued to agricultural education organisations to present to the group on current efforts in this space and future plans to address identified areas of concern in line with Actions 2 and 3
- The group is engaging with my Department's Communications unit to implement Action 4 on more inclusive language and imagery internally, in the first instance, rolling out to external bodies in due course
- A meeting has been scheduled to analyse proposed amendments to existing taxation policy as outlined in Actions 5 and 6
- A review of existing awards programmes has been initiated to identify a suitable forum for a DAFM sponsored "Women in Agriculture Innovation and Excellence Award" per Action 7
- Work has commenced on the establishment an internal review group to deliver on Actions 8 and 9
- The DAFM funded HERSELF research project is due to report its preliminary findings in April with policy proposal papers expected in May. Additional research already undertaken, in progress or proposed by working group member organisations will be shared and reviewed by the working group and form the basis for progressing Action 11
The group will meet regularly to assess and monitor progress and will report to the Food Vision High Level Implementation Committee.
Achieving the necessary changes to improve the experience of women active in the agri-food sector will take time but the implementation of this new Plan is the next practical step towards positive and meaningful change. It is a road map to a brighter, more inclusive, gender aware future for the sector and I am committed to pursuing targeted policies that build on the progress already made in this important area.