I am satisfied that men and women are treated equally in relation to access to all social welfare schemes and services. All initiatives undertaken by my Department are gender-proofed as a matter of course.
The Second Commission on the Status of Women was established by the Government in 1990 with, inter alia, the following terms of reference: (i) to review the implementation of the recommendations of the First Commission on the Status of Women as set out in that commission's report to the Minister for Finance in December 1972 and (ii) to consider and make recommendations on the means, administrative and legislative, by which women will be able to participate on equal terms and conditions with men in economic, social, political and cultural life and, to this end, to consider the efficacy and feasibility of positive action measures.