Vol. 550 No. 4
569 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the measures which are in place to promote gender balance in middle and senior level positions within the cultural institutions under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8845/02]
I have direct responsibility for the staffing and associated arrangements for the National Museum, National Library and National Archives. While my Department provides advice on request to other cultural institutions, I have no role in the adoption or otherwise of measures of the nature referred to by the Deputy in these other institutions.
The staff of the National Museum, the National Library and the National Archives are in fact staff of my Department. Accordingly, whatever measures are adopted by my Department generally to promote gender balance are applied to these three institutions. The measures include a positive approach to applications for family friendly working arrangements and a non-discriminatory and fair competitive process for posts at middle and senior level. Recruitment of entry level staff is conducted through the Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners which ensures fair and equal opportunities for both sexes.
