asked the Taoiseach if he will give any members of the Government responsibility for women's affairs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ministerial Responsibility.
6.
As I indicated to the House on 7 April 1987, the status of women is a matter which arises across the whole range of Government policy. The question of the assignment of responsibility for co-ordinating the activities of the Departments of Government in this area will be considered when the Ministers of State have been appointed.
Will the Taoiseach accept that the co-ordinating role given to a Minister of State in the previous Government resulted in no progress whatever being made and that it is necessary to have a member of the Government of Cabinet status having such a co-ordinating role before there is any hope of progress in this area?
I could not accept what the Deputy says about no progress having been made by the previous Government in the area of women's affairs. There was quite an active programme of legislation and a number of excellent measures were enacted with the full co-operation of the whole House. Considerable progress has also been made in a number of other areas, particularly on the question of endeavouring to appoint more women to posts of responsibility in the public service and elsewhere.
The Taoiseach got off on the wrong foot at the beginning of the previous administration when he did not appoint any women to the Seanad. I accept that it is his prerogative and that he has discretion in this area but nevertheless it was a very bad start to his Government. I suggest that he should look very carefully at the arrangements he makes this time. I can tell him quite emphatically that the arrangement last time did not work. I am quite sure that he regards the issues of women's rights as central and I would ask him to consider this point. Many women's organisations did not believe the last arrangement worked. I would ask the Taoiseach to consider the Fine Gael proposal prior to the election to make the Government responsive in the area of women's affairs. It might be appropriate to give responsibility to the Minister for Labour.
That is a statement. I do not think there is any question I have to answer.
Will the Minister responsible be able to attend international meetings, including the Council of Europe meeting in Vienna, to make a report on behalf of this country regarding progress on women's rights? I am presuming that a committee on women's rights will not be set up until the autumn, although a junior Minister may be given this responsibility. Several important meetings will occur shortly.
I will think about that.
The Taoiseach stated that a number of pieces of legislation were passed by the previous Administration dealing with women's rights and the status of women generally. What measures in this area were initiated by that Government and put through the House?
I will send the Deputy a list of them.
The Judicial Separation Bill.
I am prepared to give the Deputy credit for what he achieved. Deputies should not try to turn women's issues into a political football.
I must protest. If the Taoiseach has an answer I suggest that he give it and not fob us off with bland comments.
Question No. 7, please.
Was legislation on this issue initiated and put through the House by the last administration?
The Deputy should try to be up to date and deal with the affairs of this administration.
The Taoiseach has given a reply to this House which appears to be incorrect, to say the least.
I have called the next question.
This question has not been properly answered.
That may be so. The Deputy has a remedy.
Little time is given to women's issues.