Vol. 476 No. 3
75 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the nominating bodies to each board under the aegis of his Department; the number of seats to which each of these bodies nominate; and the guidelines or instructions given to nominating bodies to assist in achieving gender balance in line with Government policy. [6979/97]
Details are given below of boards under the aegis of my Department to which certain nominating authorities are entitled to make appointments, and the number of seats involved. The information does not include ministerial appointees, Government appointees, exofficio members, or those appointed by way of election.
76 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the mechanisms used by his Department to ensure that policies, programmes and decisions are proofed to assess their impact on women; the training available to those officials responsible for gender proofing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7011/97]
My Department adheres fully to Government policy on gender equality. All the policies and schemes of my Department are gender-neutral. Any legislation proposed by my Department has been gender proofed in accordance with Government policy. I personally am very conscious of the need to achieve a gender balance on boards under the aegis of my Department when selecting individuals for appointment. I have made considerable progress in this respect since my appointment as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Gender proofing is an integral part of the decision making processes in my Department. This equality ethos percolates through all the courses provided centrally for civil servants, including those serving in my Department. I am satisfied that my officials are sufficiently aware of the importance of gender equality and, as such, have not felt it necessary thus far to seek out specialist training in the area of gender proofing.
77 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the initiatives, if any, taken by his Department in 1995 and 1996 which were targeted at women; the budget allocated to each initiative; the actual amount spent on each; the budget for his Department in each of the years 1995 and 1996; and the amount of that budget exclusive of direct staffing and overhead costs. [7027/97]
The Deputy will be aware from my reply to Question No. 76 that my Department adheres fully to Government policy in relation to gender proofing and that I have been very conscious of the need to achieve gender balance on boards under the aegis of my Department. Specific initiatives which I have taken in this regard include the insertion in the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1993, [Section 7.1 (a)] of a requirement that where the membership of the RTE Authority is seven, not less than three shall be men and not less than three shall be women. Where the membership is eight or nine, not less than four shall be men and not less than four shall be women. Likewise, a provision is contained in the Heritage Act, 1995 (paragraph 2(1) of the Schedule to the Act), which states that of the members of the Heritage Council not fewer than seven shall be men and not fewer than seven shall be women. In addition, the Cultural Institutions Bill, 1997, which is presently before the House, contains a broadly similar provision in regard to the National Library and National Museum.
With regard to specific financial initiatives to benefit women the position is that the broad range of assistance provided by my Department is for the benefit of women and men equally. I should mention, however, that my Department provided specific grants of £100,000 and £15,000 in 1995 and 1996 respectively to the Irish Women's Archive and Resource Centre.
