Liz McManus
Ceist:4 Ms McManus asked the Taoiseach if he has received the Report of the Commission on the Status of Women; when it is intended to formally publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Commission on the Status of Women
The Deputy will be aware that the Commission on the Status of Women presented its report to Government on 11 February 1993. The report is now in the public domain. The Government as a whole and the appropriate Ministers will give very careful consideration to the analysis and recommendations in the report and I have asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Mervyn Taylor, to take overall responsibility for drawing up a programme of proposals in due course.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the great concern in relation to this document? It has been generally recognised as being a very significant and historic document in relation to the whole area of women's rights. Like so many other significant and historic documents, there is always the danger that it will be put up on the shelf to gather dust. Does the Taoiseach intend to allow us have a full debate on the recommendations of the Commission? Secondly, does the Taoiseach intend to set a time limit on realising the recommendations of the Commission so that we can say realistically that this report will be acted upon? Thirdly, will financial commitments be made in relation to the commitments made and, finally——
The Deputy's question is overlong.
——as the Minister for Equality and Law Reform has the responsibility for this area, how does he intend to liaise with the other Departments, including the Department of the Taoiseach, to ensure that the recommendations are implemented?
That should be adequate.
As I have already stated to the House, it is now the responsibility of the Minister for Equality and Law Reform to take overall responsibility for the report and to liaise with all other Departments in relation to fulfilling the recommendations of the report on the status of women, which is an excellent document. It will receive full consideration from the Government, and the Minister himself has already put it on public record that he will be dealing with it as a matter of urgency. It is a very large report, containing 219 recommendations, and it would be unrealistic to expect all those to be dealt with in the immediate future. It will take some time and the Minister is fully committed to its implementation.
I would like to stress the importance of a full debate, because, as the Taoiseach states, many issues have been raised and put forward as recommendations and I would ask if he has a response to that. I would have thought that an area of such major concern would still be part and parcel of the Taoiseach's responsibility to ensure that we make progress——
Ceisteanna, le do thoil.
——because I do not believe the Minister for Equality and Law Reform will be able to pursue all the matters contained in the report.
As I am sure the Deputy will be aware, the matter to which she refers in the latter part of her question was indeed under the responsibility of the Taoiseach, but responsibility for that matter, and the Council for the Status of Women, has been transferred to the Minister for Equality and Law Reform. The question of a full Dáil debate on the recommendations is a matter for the Whips to take up.
Will the Taoiseach agree to advise Judge Mella Carroll, the chairperson of this commission, to establish an implementation monitoring committee to help the Minister for Equality and Law Reform in the implementation of this report?
There is a commitment from the Minister for Equality and Law Reform in relation to the implementation of this report. I have given him full responsibility and I have no doubt the Deputy will get the required response.
Does the Taoiseach not think it would be a good idea for the Minister for Equality and Law Reform to report back to this House on a monthly or a three monthly basis? Otherwise I fear that this very fine report will gather dust; indeed it will be just an aspiration. If the Minister for Equality and Law Reform does not set targets the report will go the way of all previous reports.
There are many ways and means of discussing the implementation of the proposals for example by way of Question Time or debate in Private Member's time. The Whips can meet to discuss the matter if people feel there is need for additional time for debate in this regard.
Will the Taoiseach agree that he looks a little foolish in receiving this report in the week he announced the appointment of 11 new Senators, only one of whom is a woman? He failed to admit to the House that not one of his appointees is a woman, the same applies to the special advisers in his Department. Will he agree that the appointment of a Minister for Equality and Law Reform in that context is a charade?
Deputies in all parties will agree that every party has ground to make up in this regard——
Deputies
Not all of them.
——and I include my own party in that. We are taking steps to give opportunities to women to come through the political system, and I am sure all parties will do likewise.
Would the Minister——
Deputy Frances Fitzgerald.
I have risen on a number of occasions——
This is a question with special reference to women and I do not think the Chair should be faulted for calling lady Members.
I am not faulting you for that.
When does the Government intend to publish the programme for action which follows from the recommendations for the Commission on the Status of Women, as promised in the joint Programme for Government?
I have given responsibility for that matter to the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, and questions to him will elicit the information the Deputy requires.
In order to ensure that the recommendations in the report are implemented, may I ask the Taoiseach who he intends to appoint and whether he will give consideration to appointing someone within his Department to identify the gender of those he proposes appointing to State bodies?
That will not be necessary.