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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 3

Written Answers. - Women's Arts Policy.

Theresa Ahearn

Ceist:

45 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the proposals, if any, he has for a women's arts policy; the steps, if any, he has taken in the last year to increase the public visibility of women artists and writers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Theresa Ahearn

Ceist:

46 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he has acted on any of the recommendations in the report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together.

I have ensured in making appointments to boards-agencies under my Department's aegis that their composition is in accordance with the recommendations in the report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women. Appointments made by me this year included eight women to the 17 member Comhairle Ealaíon, four women to the seven member Bord Scannán na hÉireann and four women to the ten member Independent Radio and Television Commission. In relation to the RTÉ Authority, the requirement for gender balance has been enshrined in legislation by the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1993.
I have also requested bodies who nominate members for boards-agencies to practise gender balance and this has already begun. All bodies under the aegis of my Department have been directed to operate an equal opportunities policy and to specify in job advertisements that they are an equal opportunities employer.
With regard to the matter of a women's arts policy, I indicated in reply to similar parliamentary questions on 29 April 1993, that An Comhairle Ealaíon was to be asked to prepare a three-year coordinated plan and that I saw this mechanism as being a useful forum to explore and respond to the commission's recommendations over time. The Deputy will be glad to know that I have since asked An Chomhairle to prepare this plan and expect it to be available to me early in 1994.
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