Committee Reports::Annual Report - Joint Committee on Women's Rights 1995::01 February, 1996::Report

The Joint Committee is pleased to present its annual report for 1995. The report reflects the broad nature of the terms of reference of the Committee which are set out in Chapter two. The longterm goal of the Committee is to improve the status of women in Irish society with a view to achieving equality of rights, obligations and opportunity among men and women. To this end, it has worked on areas such as women in business and business creation, the Human Resource development implications of women in management, the impact of European Equality Legislation on women’s affairs in Ireland. women in local administration, women’s health issues. waiting lists in law centres, facilities and procedures in family law courts and education and training for rural women.

Amongst the areas of most immediate concern in 1995 were domestic violence. Hepatitis C and the impact of the Beijing Conference on Women’s Rights. The Joint Committee will continue to monitor progress in these areas and will also continue to consider developments in the area of sexual harassment within and outside the workplace, improvements in family law court facilities and implementation of the Recommendations of the Report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women. Research conducted on behalf of the Joint Committee will include childcare and créche provision in Ireland and the longterm support framework for female carers of the elderly. Women’s Rights relate to the area of responsibility of a number of Government Departments and State-sponsored bodies and the Joint Committee will continue to liaise closely with these agencies and also with women’s organisations and other interest groups and charities in 1996. The Joint Committee acknowledges the key part which its consultation with this wide range of outside bodies has played and would like to thank them for their contribution.

Much remains to be done in levelling the playing field between men and women in Irish society. Women and men should both be in a position to combine parenthood and gainful employment if they so wish. This can only be achieved through a system of widely available, high quality childcare. We will endeavour in the coming year to encourage changes in attitudes as well as in the institutional framework in order to eliminate obstacles to equality in all areas.

I wish to thank the members of the Committee for all their assistance and valuable work during the last year.

2. JOINT COMMITTEE ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS

ORDERS OF REFERENCE

DÁIL ÉIREANN

(1) That, for the purpose of facilitating consultation between the Houses of the Oireachtas and representatives of organisations concerned with the position of women in Irish society, a Select Committee consisting of 11 Members of Dáil Éireann be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee to be appointed by Seanad Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Women’s Rights.

(a)examine or propose legislative measures which would materially affect the interests of women;

(b)consider means by which any areas of discrimination against women can be eliminated and by which the obstacles to their full participation in the political, social and economic life of the community can be removed;

(c)consider specific economic and social disadvantages applying to women in the home and, bearing in mind the special nature of their contribution to the community, to recommend effective policy and administrative changes to help eliminate these disadvantages

(3) That the Joint Committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records and, subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance, to engage the services of persons with specialist or technical knowledge to assist it for the purposes of particular enquiries.

(4) That the Joint Committee, previous to the commencement of business, shall elect one of its members to be Chairman, who shall have only one vote.

(5) That all questions in the Joint Committee shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in the event of there being an equality of votes the question shall be decided in the negative.

(6) That the Joint Committee shall have power to print and publish from time to time minutes of evidence taken before it, together with such related documents as it thinks fit.

(7) That four members of the Joint Committee shall form a quorum, of whom at least one shall be a Member of Dáil Éireann and at least one shall be a Member of Seanad Éireann.

(8) That every report which the Joint Committee proposes to make shall, on adoption by the Joint Committee, be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas forthwith, whereupon the Joint Committee shall be empowered to print and publish such report together with such related documents as it thinks fit.

Extensions to the Orders of Reference contained in Dáil Order Paper. (1 March 1995)

That the Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee on Women’s Rights be amended by the addition of the following paragraphs after paragraph (8):-

(9) That the Joint Committee shall have the power to discuss and draft proposals for legislative changes and new legislation for recommendation to Ministers which are relevant to the matters comprehended by paragraph (2).

(10) That all appointees to high office in the State shall attend meetings of the Joint Committee, as appropriate, and subject to the legal constraints of their office, to discuss issues which are relevant to the matters comprehended by paragraph (2).

(11) That Ministers and Ministers of State shall appear before the Joint Committee to discuss current policies relevant to the matters comprehended by paragraph (2) And the implementation of such policies in their Departments. A Minister or Minister of State may request the Joint Committee to convene to enable him or her to explain current or proposed policy or to initiate a debate thereon.

(12) That in the absence from a particular meeting of the Joint Committee of a member who is a member of Dáil Éireann, another member of Dáil Éireann nominated by the Party or group within the meaning of Standing Order 90 to which the absent member belongs may take part in the proceedings and vote in his or her stead: Provided that in the case of a substitute nominated by a Party which is a Government Party, such substitute may be a member of another Government Party.

(13) That members of Dáil Éireann, not being members of the Joint Committee, may attend meetings and take part in the proceedings of the Joint Committee without having a right to vote.’.”

SEANAD EIREANN

(1) That, for the purpose of facilitating consultation between the Houses of the Oireachtas and representatives of organisations concerned with the position of women in Irish society, a Select Committee consisting of 6 Members of Seanad Éireann be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee to be appointed by Dáil Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Women’s Rights.

(a)examine or propose legislative measures which would materially affect the interests of women;

(4) That the Joint Committee, previous to the commencement of business, shall elect one of its members to be Chairman, who shall have only one vote.

(6) That the Joint Committee shall have power to print and publish from time to time minutes of evidence taken before it, together with such related documents as it thinks fit.

(7) That four members of the Joint Committee shall form a quorum, of whom at least one shall be a Member of Dáil Éireann and at least one shall be a Member of Seanad Éireann.

Extensions to the Orders of Reference contained in Seanad Order Paper. (March 1995)

That the Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee on Women’s Rights be amended by the addition of the following paragraphs after paragraph (8):-

(12) That in the absence from a particular meeting of the Joint Committee of a member who is a member of Seanad Éireann, another member of Seanad Éireann nominated by the Party or group within the meaning of Standing Order 90 to which the absent member belongs may take part in the proceedings and vote in his or her stead: Provided that in the case of a substitute nominated by a Party which is a Government Party, such substitute may be a member of another Government Party.

(13) That members of Dáil Éireann, not being members of the Joint Committee, may attend meetings and take part in the proceedings of the Joint Committee without having a right to vote.’.”

LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE FOURTH JOINT COMMITTEE ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS

4. NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD IN 1995

WOMEN’S RIGHTS COMMITTEE

9 March

30 March

12 April

4 May

18 May

1 June

21 June

23 June

12 July

27 July

5 October

20 October

2 November

9 November

23 November

7 December

12 December

5. ISSUES DISCUSSED DURING

MAIN PUBLIC HEARINGS

GENDER BALANCE IN POLITICAL DECISION MAKING

A presentation was made by Ms. Frances Gardner, Trinity College, Dublin of the Women in Decision Making Network.

Decision/Conclusion: An invitation was extended to members to attend the Seminar on ‘Strategies for a Gender Balance in Political Decision Making’.

HEPATITIS C

A presentation was made by Positive Action which was represented by Ms. Jane O’Brien, Ms. Paula Kealy, Ms. Emer Pollard, Ms. Josephine Mahony, Ms. Camilla McAlease and Ms. Phil Delaney.

A presentation was made by Mr. Michael Noonan T.D., Minister for Health who was accompanied by Department of Health officials.

3)That the Department of Health would check that basic counselling was available nationwide, especially in places such as Offaly, Laois and Kilkenny and

4)That a meeting would be held between Positive Action and the Department of Health to discuss a formal structure for dealing with the issues involved. In addition, the need for a co-ordinator with an office and a manned telephone in the organisation was discussed, as was the issue of out of pocket expenses, particularly for those involving loss of earnings.

On 13 September 1995 the Chairperson of the Joint Committee issued a statement confirming support for Positive Action in its insistence that the compensation tribunal planned as part of the government package of compensation and treatment for Hepatitis C sufferers be placed on a statutory basis and urging the Minister to consider introducing legislation to place the proposed tribunal on an acceptable statutory footing.

APPOINTMENT OF WOMEN TO SENIOR POSITIONS IN LOCAL ADMINISTRATION

This item arose out of current research being undertaken on behalf of the Joint Committee.

Discussion with Representatives of the Local Appointments Commission on appointment of women to senior posts in Local Administration

Discussion with the Secretary of the Local Appointments Commission and Civil Service Commission and 3 other officials.

Decision/Conclusion: The Committee raised a number of matters to be followed up by the Commission.

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REPORT OF THE SECOND COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

A presentation was made by Mr. Mervyn Taylor T.D., Minister for Equality and Law Reform on progress made to date

Decision/Conclusion: The Second Report is due out shortly. Due to a number of factors including the considerable reformatting which was required in order to comply with the Joint Committee’s requirements in terms of presentation and recommendations, the report was not published on schedule.

WAITING LISTS IN LAW CENTRES AND FAMILY LAW COURTS PROCEDURES

Presentation by FLAC (Free Legal Aid Centre)

The Chairperson Ms. Iseult O’Malley, accompanied by Ms. Sabha Greene gave a presentation on the length of waiting lists in law centres nationwide, difficulties experienced in operating the private practitioners’ pilot scheme, criteria for priority in law centres and for allocation of emergency certificates and the possibility of extending barring orders to cover cohabiting couples and violent offspring.

Decision/Conclusion: It was agreed to raise the points highlighted in the presentation with the Minister for Equality and Law Reform.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Presentation by Women’s Aid of its draft document for a National Strategy

Ms. Róisín McDermott, Chairperson, accompanied by Ms. Monica O’Connor made a brief presentation to the Joint Committee covering provision of services for victims of domestic violence, new legislation, family courts, child protection, civil legal aid, interagency work and public awareness, economic issues for women in violent situations and community development.

Decision/Conclusion: Agreement was reached to meet the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Equality and Law Reform to follow up on the points raised. It was also agreed that a suggestion would be made to the Minister for Equality and Law Reform that more judges be appointed to help reduce the backlog of family law cases and that it be stated to the Minister that the injunction procedure was inadequate to deal with cases of abusive cohabitees and offspring.

An invitation was issued to both Ministers to follow up on the points raised. The Minister for Justice later attended a meeting of the Joint Committee to discuss the interaction of women’s rights and the criminal justice system.

The Eastern Health Board was contacted regarding expenditure on Bed and Breakfast accommodation and night shelters.

Presentation by Women’s Aid on the recently launched survey on domestic violence entitled ‘Making the Links: Towards an integrated strategy for the elimination of violence against women in intimate relationships with men’

A presentation was made by Ms. Róisín McDermott, Chairperson and Ms. Monica O’Connor, Research Training and Development Officer of Women’s Aid.

Decision/Conclusion: (1) Extreme concern was expressed at the level of domestic violence indicated in the survey.

(2) The Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Health, were written to for their responses to the recommendations contained in the Report. Upon receipt of the responses the Joint Committee would consider whether to invite the Ministers to discuss the findings of the survey.

EXPANSION OF FAMILY COURT FACILITIES

Presentation by Ms. Nora Owen T.D., Minister for Justice, accompanied by Department officials, on the interaction of women’s rights and the criminal justice system, focusing on the establishment of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Investigation Unit, expansion of Family Court facilities and in particular the handling of applications for Barring and Protection Orders and the gender balance in judicial appointments.

Decision/Conclusions: It was agreed that the Minister would supply further information on the matters discussed.

THE IMPACT OF EUROPEAN EQUALITY LEGISLATION ON WOMEN’S AFFAIRS IN IRELAND

A presentation was made by the EU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Mr. Padraig Flynn on the Fourth Community Action Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men 1996-2000.

Decision/Conclusions: It was agreed to hold a further meeting with the Commissioner to discuss progress and implementation of the Fourth Action Programme.

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Presentation by Mr. Michael Noonan T.D., Minister for Health accompanied by Department officials on the recently published discussion document entitled ‘Developing a Policy for Women’s Health’. The main issues and the process of consultation in preparing and adopting the plan were discussed.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR RURAL WOMEN

Presentation by the Farm Family Group (A Committee of the Irish Farmer’s Association dealing with women’s affairs and education and training for farm women).

The Chairperson of the Farm Family Group, Ms. Joan Fitzpatrick gave the presentation. She was accompanied by Ms. Betty Murphy, Ms. Lena Ging, Ms. Essie French and Ms. Evelyn Hayes.

Decision/Conclusion: The Joint Committee, agreeing with the aims of the Farm Family Group, decided that representatives of FÁS and Teagasc should be invited to attend a Joint Committee meeting to discuss the points raised.

Discussion on Access of Women to FÁS and Teagasc training schemes and the availability of those schemes

This discussion was a follow up session to the previous meeting with the I.F.A. Farm Family Group.

FÁS: A presentation was made by Mr. Tom Costello, Director of Programme Development who was accompanied by Ms. Mary Beggan, Equality Opportunities Manager, concerning FÁS provision for rural women and the findings of the 1994-95 FÁS Report entitled ‘Women in Focus’.

TEAGASC: A presentation was made by Dr. David O’Connor, Head of Training Development accompanied by Ms. Veronica O’Connor concerning the training function of Teagasc.

Decision/Conclusion: FÁS and Teagasc were assured that the Joint Committee would lend support to their current training programmes and to any future co-operative initiatives between the two organisations and would continue to monitor provision for rural women.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

A presentation was made by the authors of a recently published book entitled ‘Sexual Harassment in the Workplace : A Practical Guide for Employers and Employees

Mr. Adrian Twomey and Dr. Noel Harvey made brief presentations on the law relating to this issue and the role of unions and employers.

Decisions/Conclusions: The Committee agreed to hold a full debate on this subject in 1996 inviting the Minister for Equality and Law Reform to discuss his area of responsibility and inviting the Employment Equality Agency to participate in these discussions.

6. MAIN PRIVATE MEETINGS

1.Monitoring of the EU programme and the area of social policy aimed at helping women.

2.Examination of the number of women in business and enterprise formation and of strategies to encourage greater participation.

3.Review of the progress of the Monitoring Committee set up to monitor implementation of the Recommendations of the Second Commission on the Status of Women.

4.Invitations to be extended to Government Ministers and holders of high office to discuss their areas of responsibility as they impact on women’s affairs.

5.Monitor the situation regarding the Hepatitis C issue and payment compensation to sufferers and their families.

6.Review of women’s health policy and in particular the pilot mammography scheme.

Invitation to be issued to the Minister for Health to update the Committee on progress made in the whole area of women’s health including research on the availability of family planning services. Clarification to be sought from various health boards nationwide regarding studies conducted by them on general health service provision for women and also regarding allowances available for home help.

7.Clarification to be sought from the Minister for Finance and the Chairperson of the Joint Services Committee regarding provision of funding for the proposed créche in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

8.Examination of the support structures necessary to enable greater female participation in the political arena and to facilitate a greater impact by women in political affairs.

9.Examination of childcare provision in Ireland and financial aspects of provision of childcare both within and outside the home.

10.Meeting to be arranged with representatives of the Local Appointments Commission regarding the lack of women at County Manager level in Local Authorities.

FEMALE PARTICIPATION ON INTERPARLIAMENTARY UNION CONFERENCES

The issues of access to Information on IPU one-day women’s conferences and allocation of places on the main IPU conference to members of the Joint Committee and other women parliamentarians were pursued. Female representation at Chair, Vice-Chair and convenor level of Oireachtas Committees was raised with the appropriate authorities.

PROVISION OF CRÈCHE FACILITIES IN LEINSTER HOUSE

The Joint Committee achieved its longterm ambition to show example to employers generally of the need for the provision of crèche/family facilities in the workplace, when the Minister for Finance announced that such a facility would be provided in Leinster House. The planning stage is now underway and building will start shortly.

THE IMPACT OF EUROPEAN EQUALITY LEGISLATION ON WOMEN’S AFFAIRS IN IRELAND

Before meeting with the EU Commissioner for Social Affairs, the Joint Committee conducted a brief examination of the Third Medium Term Community Action Programme 1991 - 1995 and considered an Evaluation Report on that programme containing recommendations for the Fourth Action Programme issued by the EU Parliament’s Women’s Rights Committee, and also considered a briefing on European and Irish equality legislation in the period 1985 to 1995.

7. RESEARCH BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE IN 1995

NEW RESEARCH COMMISSIONED IN 1995

Current Status: The report is now in the final stages of completion. Copies of the draft report have been forwarded to the EU Commissioner for Social Affairs and to the Women’s Rights Committee of the European Parliament in the context of the 4th Action Programme.

It is intended that the Committee’s final views when complete will be considered by the European institutions.

2.Barriers to the Participation of Women in Business and Business Creation in Ireland

Current Status: The research is nearing completion. It is intended that a full report will be published in early 1996.

EXISTING RESEARCH BEING CONDUCTED ON BEHALF OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE

Current Status: The research is nearing completion. It is expected that a full report will be published in early 1996.

Current Status: Finalisation and publication of this project is expected in early 1996.

3.Changing Attitudes towards the Role of Women in Ireland (4th Report on Environment and Peace)

Current Status: This project was finalised and lodged in the Oireachtas Library in late 1995.

Current Status: This research was finalised in late 1995 and the report was lodged in the Oireachtas Library.

Current Status: This project was finalised in late 1995 and was lodged in the Oireachtas Library.

RESEARCH TO BE COMMISSIONED IN 1996

1. Childcare and Créche Provision in Ireland

An examination of créche/daycare facilities in Ireland (the term ‘daycare’ to include daycare in the daycarer’s home, daycare within the child’s home and in addition daycare provision outside the home environment). The study should include analysis of demographic trends, available facilities, gaps in provision and recommendations regarding unmet needs and policy direction.

2. The Longterm Support Framework for Female Carers of the Elderly

An evaluation, including appropriate recommendations, of current and potential forms of support for female carers of the elderly, in the context of demographic changes over the medium term, including inter alia, consideration of the role of the Carer’s Allowance Scheme, the study to be based on estimates for the demand and supply of female carers to be derived from the relevant population projections.