Departmental Meetings

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024

Wednesday, 20 March 2024

Questions (1557)

Carol Nolan

Question:

1557. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of engagements, including online meetings, webinars, briefings and in-person meetings that he or officials from his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department have had with an organisation (details supplied) including its representatives from 1 January 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12741/24]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

My officials and I have met with the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) periodically since the establishment of my Department in August 2020.

My Department has had meetings pertaining to the work of the Ending Sexual Harassment & Violence in Third Level Education (ESHTE) project. The ESTHE project aims to prevent and combat sexual harassment and violence in third-level institutes across Europe. I met with the NCWI on 12th April 2021. I also attended meetings of the National Advisory Committee on ending sexual violence and harassment in Irish HEIs, which is led by the NWCI, on 27th July 2020 and on 8th December 2021. 

On 28th September 2021, the Women’s Economic Equality Coordinator at the NWCI presented to the National Skills Council. This was on the issue of Gender and Diversity in the Labour Market: Skills issues, impacts of COVID-19 and challenges around gender and diversity.

On April 26th this year I launched Towards a Zero Tolerance Approach – National Women’s Council Good Practice Guide. This guide aims to assist Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Ireland in implementing the Department’s Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive - Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions Framework. This Good Practice Guide fully aligns with the actions in the ZERO TOLERANCE: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) Strategy.  The NWCI is a member of the HEA ESVH Advisory Group, which has met 15 times to date. A staff member working in the Centre for Excellence in Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the HEA spoke at an NWCI event on the launch of their good practice guide on 26th April 2023.  

The National Women’s Council (NWCI) was a member of the Science Foundation Ireland's Creating Our Future Advisory Forum. The Director of the NWCI was the organisation representative. The Forum met regularly between June 2021 and March 2022.

The work in which I and my officials engage in with the NWCI complements the work carried out by the staff of my Department and the work of the Higher Education Authority’s Centre for Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

The information sought by the Deputy with regard to the aegis bodies of my Department is not held by the Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out below, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with her query.

Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Name of Body	Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireacthas	Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members
Higher Education Authority	[e-mail]	Padraic Mellett*
Irish Research Council( Note 1)	[e-mail]	Padraic Mellett*
Grangegorman Development Agency	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
SOLAS	[e-mail]	Maria Walsh [e-mail]
Skillnets Ltd	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
Quality and Qualifications Ireland	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
Léargas – The Exchange Bureau	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
Science Foundation Ireland	[e-mail]	Ciara Cotter

Note 1 – Regarding the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) as the IRC operates under the auspices of the HEA. Mr Mellett will address Oireachtas queries for both the HEA and IRC. Please use [e-mail] and [e-mail]  respectively to contact  Mr Mellett.