Enabling Irish women to fulfil their potential in social, economic and political life is not just good for women but for the country, Minister of State for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Ms Mary Wallace, said today.
Unveiling a draft National Plan for Women 2001-2005 at Dublin Castle this afternoon, the Minister said: "It gives us the opportunity to consolidate our commitments in relation to women’s issues over the past number of years, and to make further progress in achieving gender equality for all women in our society."
However the Government’s action plan has been criticised by opposition parties who said more than aspiration policies are needed to reduce gender imbalances.
The draft is part of the Government’s gender equality policy which stems from a 10-year UN Action Agenda agreed by 189 governments in Beijing in 1995.
It contains the Government’s commitment to tackle gender inequities in the areas of health; education and training; the economy and employment; the media; human rights; the environment and inequalities for girls and children.
It also outlines commitments to reduce poverty and violence against women; to develop institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women and to promote women’s role in power and decision-making at levels.
While acknowledging the draft’s commendable ambitions, Labour spokeswoman for equality and law reform, Ms Jan O’Sullivan, said: "Such commitments are fruitless unless backed up by real and tangible effects."
She called on the Government to follow up their objectives with more rigour particularly in the provision of childcare and crèches and action to attract women into the workforce.
Meanwhile Ms Frances Fitzgerald TD, Fine Gael spokeswoman on Equality, Opportunity & Family Affairs said women today still face uncertainty on basic maternity care and shortages in accessible and affordable childcare which she described as the real equality issues.
Ms Fitzgerald said the provision under the National Development Plan of £344 million for childcare facilities has not impacted at ground level where there is still a serious shortage of affordable childcare.
But Government rejected such criticism. A spokesman for the Minister said under the NDP child benefit has increased and the number of childcare places has risen by 10,400 to 24,000.
But he said the most important change under the Government has been in the law - the Employment Equality Act; the Equal Status Act; and the Director of Equality Investigations.
Today’s launch marks the start of a six-week consultation process with women groups and interested parties around the country. It will end with a public forum in February 2002 and the final plan is due to be published in spring 2002.
To encourage women to become involved in the consultations process, grants of between £200 and £2,000 are being made available for women’s groups to allow them disperse information and to hold workshops or discussions groups on the plan.
The Government will also will run a countrywide advertising campaign and an information leaflet is also available from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Information is also available on the Department’s site (http://www.justice.ie).
The draft plan shows in 2000:
- 47 per cent of women were part of the labour force, compared to more than 71 per cent of men
- the highest participation of women in the labour force was in the education and health sector (74 per cent) and it was lowest in building and construction (5 per cent)
- Women accounted for about half those employed in the financial and business sector and wholesale and retail trade
- Men accounted for just one per cent of those carrying out home duties.
Today also the publication of the Government’s research project - "Development of Mechanisms to monitor progress in achieving gender equality in Ireland" conduced by Dr Yvonne Galligan.