Under the Partnership 2000 agreement recently negotiated, a working party including relevant Government Departments and the social partners will be established to examine the question of equal access by women to labour market opportunities, including training, education and employment programmes.
In response to my proposal, it was agreed informally by Government to invite the social partners, the National Women's Council and the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed to participate in a working party with the Departments of Social Welfare and Enterprise and Employment to examine the underlying issues that need to be discussed in this matter and to make recommendations to Government.
The issues involved, which have been the subject of a recent campaign organised by the National Women's Council and the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, are important and I have already put in place a range of measures designed to provide more comprehensive information and advice to women in this regard. These measures include: an information leaflet entitled "Signing on the Live Register" which is now available at all my Department's local offices. This leaflet gives information on the live register, details about unemployment payments and credited contributions and full details about employment schemes, training courses and educational opportunities and how to qualify; access to the services of my Department's locally based job facilitators to inform and advise on the various options available; advice to spouses of unemployed persons in relation to their right to sign on the live register where such spouses satisfy the conditions to do so and advice about the option which is currently available under the community employment and part-time job opportunities programme which allows a person to participate in either of these schemes in place of his or her spouse.
Partnership 2000 recognises that women should not be penalised with regard to the availability of employment supports, including training and that they should have equal access to all labour market opportunities. I will soon consult the various groups and I hope to set up the working group as soon as possible.