asked the Minister for Labour if he has any proposals to introduce a White Paper regarding the provision of equal opportunities for women.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Status of Women.
56.
The main thrust of Government commitment in this area is summed up in terms of the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, which gives women the right to equal pay to come into effect at the end of this year.
To complement this legislation, in the current session, I will be introducing a further Bill to provide equal opportunities for women in employment.
Other measures recommended by the Commission on the Status of Women have already been taken by the Government. The social welfare code has been greatly improved. Mothers are now paid their children's allowances as of right. Deserted wives are dealt with in a much more humane way. The unmarried mother who keeps her child is now entitled to a welfare allowance. An allowance is made to the wives of long-term prisoners. The removal of the means limit on insurability means that most women are now covered for maternity benefit. Married women may avail of their pre-marriage contributions to qualify for unemployment, disability, dental and optical benefits. Women employed in private domestic service or in agriculture are now eligible for unemployment benefit on the same conditions as other insured workers. An allowance is now paid to single women between the age of 58 and pensionable age who are in poor circumstances.
Procedural legislation has been passed for the reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders between this country and Britain. In the area of taxation the working woman's allowance has been increased.
No decision has been made on the publication of any further proposals in this area.
That is not the question I asked. The Minister is saying all these things. The purpose of the question is that there is grave doubt being expressed by the vast number of people I represent that there is any sincerity in the Minister's promise about what will emerge in January. Because of the doubt, I have asked the Minister if he would produce a White Paper so that the various interested organisations could examine it. The Minister did not say yes or no.
I would be the first to say that we have a lot of work to do in this area yet but I have indicated some of the actions taken by this Administration.
I did not ask that. I asked if the Minister would produce a White Paper.
The Deputy has been talking about sincerity. I have listed some of the actions taken. They surely add up to a sincere commitment by this Government to remove the effects of discrimination.
I am afraid the Minister is not trusted in Ballyfermot.
I will have to live with that.
Arising out of the Minister's status of women in the nation speech, could I ask him if he would consider it advisable to do what I asked him to do in the previous question, that is, advise the Civil Service Commission that it is bad example, particularly for his Department, to continue to advertise the salary scales in the manner they have been doing?
Question 57. The Minister has already dealt with that point.
I have indicated the necessity of not interfering with the Civil Service Commission.