Vol. 440 No. 5
2 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the implications for equality policy arising from recent studies (details supplied) on poverty and childcare facilities for working parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The implications for equality policy arising from the studies cited by Deputy Currie are quite broad and will warrant in-depth reflection, consultation and action.
The ESRI study on Poverty and Policy in Ireland edited by Nolan and Callan addressed an issue which is primarily one for my colleague, the Minister for Social Welfare.
Not surprisingly, however, it does raise gender inequalities as factors in poverty. With regard to labour market participation by women it links the impact of children with much of the gap between men's and women's earnings.
The implications of the wage gap differential is one with which I am particularly concerned. A study on male-female wage differentials by the ESRI which was commissioned jointly by the Employment Equality Agency and the Department of Labour and published earlier this month suggests that among other productivity-related characteristics a sustained rise in the duration of women's participation in employment over the working life cycle would be the single most effective factor in reducing the gap between male and female wages.
This finding is wholly consistent with the main thrust of the second study referred to in the question, namely the report of the Working Group on Childcare Facilities for Working Parents. This report was published last week and took as its starting point the need to improve childcare supports for working parents. It readily recognises the imbalance in society in the sharing of parental responsibilities between men and women. It profiles very clearly the benefits of greater efforts by employers and public authorities to reconcile family and work commitments of working parents especially mothers.
The Government's policy on equality already acknowledges the importance of progressing these issues. Both the Programme for a Partnership Government and the Programme for Competitiveness and Work include commitments to address them. Already Government has agreed to initiate a number of pilot projects in disadvantaged areas involving partnerships with employer, community and other groups. My Department has been allocated £1 million for this purpose this year.
The reports to which the Deputy refers have only just been published and merit in-depth consideration. As I have said, matters relating to poverty are not the remit of my Department. I will, of course, actively pursue my programme to combat discrimination and achieve greater equality of opportunity in the workplace by legislative and other means. In doing so I will work closely with the social partners and community interests generally, all of whom have key contributions to make in this area. The Employment Equality Agency will also play an important role in progressing equality policy in the years ahead.
I too recommend this ESRI study on Poverty and Policy in Ireland which is a very useful publication. What has the Minister to say about the implications for equality of the finding of this report that Government policy over the past five years at least in targeting resources at disadvantaged areas has been wrong and has helped only a minority of poor and unemployed people, particularly a minority of women? What has he to say about the finding that overall Government policy has been wrong, particularly in view of the fact that this “mistaken” policy is being carried on into the National Development Plan and that yesterday the Taoiseach told us of the 33 areas on which this assistance will be focused? Why carry on with the plan in view of the findings of this study that it is targeted in the wrong directions?
The Deputy is quoting a broad, sweeping comment. This Government has been in office for a little over one year, not for five years. The thrust of the Government's policy on equality and childcare issues is clear and will be enunciated again in the course of further questions on the Order Paper today. The Government intends to tackle these issues in a very positive way. These reports have been received and all will be examined in the fullness of their implications. The policy of targeting disadvantaged areas is a sound one and, to that end, my Department has secured £1 million to initiate a number of pilot projects in disadvantaged areas to provide childcare arrangements which will enable single parents, in particular, to avail of employment and education opportunities. That is very worthwhile and will produce results and it is just one of a number of measures that will be taken. The childcare report has just come to hand as well and contains a number of worthwhile suggestions. All of these reports will be considered fully over the next few months.
I am well aware that this Government has been in office for 15 months. This study contains a specific criticism of Government policy over the past five years and the inclusion of this policy in the National Development Plan by this Government is a very recent development. What has the Minister to say about the specific criticism that the targeting is absolutely wrong, that Government policy ought to concentrate on poor households, on the use of child benefit and reform of the tax and welfare systems rather than the concentration which has obtained to date and, specifically in relation to women, that the policy has been targeted in the wrong direction?
Deputy Currie is raising questions regarding social welfare and tax matters.
It is all inequality.
Child benefit, tax allowances and so on are important issues. It would be appropriate for the Deputy to raise those with the appropriate Ministers who have responsibility for them. In any case they are matters of general policy totally inappropriate at Question Time. I assure the Deputy that all these recently published reports will be studied and their contents carefully examined and sympathetically implemented. I have no doubt the Government will ensure that the necessary provisions will be targeted where they are most needed. That is the policy of this Government.
With due respect to the Minister's waffle, he is, after all, the Minister for Equality and all of these policies relate directly to lack of equality.
We must proceed by way of question.
The Minister cannot dodge all these questions.
We can only tax the Minister with responsibilities that clearly are his and not those of other Ministers.
