John Bruton
Ceist:13 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will outline his plans for preparation in Ireland for the 1995 United Nations Conference on Women.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - UN Conference on Women.
Preparations for the United Nations Conference on Women will be similar to those made for the 1985 Nairobi World Conference. The Government intend, as then, to participate in the preparatory work for the conference by the UN Commission on the Status of Women; to establish a national committee — representative of key non-governmental women's groups and key Government Departments; to oversee, in advance of the conference, the preparation of a national report of Ireland for the conference; to consider other information measures within Ireland such as seminars and newsletters; and, in due course, to appoint a strong and representative national delegation to the conference.
Where will the conference take place? Is an outline of the subjects to be covered yet available and what would the Minister like to see the conference achieve?
The conference will take place in 1995 in Beijing. The preparation will include wide consultations — I have decided recently to consult formally with the Council for the Status of Women whom I propose to meet very shortly to discuss the agenda. However, it is early days yet. As the Deputy may be aware, a very important meeting will take place in March 1993 and the UN Commission on the Status of Women who are acting as the preparatory body for the conference. Following that my Department will commence their national preparations. The national committee in 1985 comprised representatives of my Department and the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Health, Education and Labour and representatives of the Council for the Status of Women, the ICA and the Employment Equality Agency.
Will the Minister agree to formally consult at this stage the Joint Committee on Women's Rights on this subject? Will he write to that committee outlining the programme available for the conference and invite them to discuss it?
I would envisage some degree of co-operation with the Joint Committee on Women's Rights of which I was a member. I notice that they were not represented at the 1985 conference.
The Minister has listed a number of Government Departments who will be consulted in preparation for the Beijing conference and it is interesting that the Department of Foreign Affairs are not on that list.
I mentioned the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In the Department of Foreign Affairs are preparatory papers being initiated in relation to themes that will arise such as the role of women in developing countries?
I envisage that as one of the many items which need to be addressed. I assure the Deputy that the Department of Foreign Affairs will be centrally involved.