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TITHE AN OIREACHTAISAn Comhchoiste um Thalamhaíocht, Bia agus MhuirTuarascáil ar Ról na mBan sa Talamhaíocht agus ar nithe gaolmharaHOUSES OF THE OIREACHTASJoint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the MarineReport on the Role of Women in Agriculture and related mattersSamhain, 2000 November, 2000 TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS An Comhchoiste um Thalamhaíocht, Bia agus Mhuir Tuarascáil ar Ról na mBan sa Talamhaíocht agus ar nithe gaolmhara HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine Report on the Role of Women in Agriculture and related matters Samhain, 2000 November, 2000 (Pn.9259) Contents1. Introduction 2. Recommendations of the Joint Committee 3. Proceedings of the Joint Committee Appendix I: Members of the Joint Committee Appendix II: Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee 1. IntroductionThe Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine heard a presentation from the IFA Family Farm Group on 25 October, 2000 regarding the role of women in Agriculture. The Committee is primarily concerned with the role of women in Agriculture and many of the recommendations in this Report refer specifically to women in this sector. However, the Committee recognises the contribution of women in all professions both in rural and urban environments. The Committee is anxious to ensure that the agricultural sector is fully supported and its future ensured. In this context the Committee believes that the role of women in agriculture is important for the future of this sector and, to ensure the continued participation of women in this sector makes certain recommendations in relation to personal finance. These recommendations are contained in Chapter 2, paragraph 1. In the course of its deliberations on this matter the Committee also briefly considered those support services that would assist the farming community regardless of the involvement of women and its primary recommendation in this matter is contained in paragraph 2 of the recommendations. Finally, the Committee recognises that its primary focus is the public affairs administered by the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. However, recognising also the concerns expressed regarding the continued participation of women in Agriculture, the Committee also recommends certain action in relation to services provided by other Government Departments that would support this participation. These recommendations are listed in paragraph 3 of Chapter 2. 2. Recommendations of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine1.Recommendations in relation to the issue of personal finance: 1.1The Committee recognises the contribution made by women in agriculture and to ensure their continued involvement believes that the issue of personal finance requires to be addressed. 1.2The Committee recommends that the treatment of women in agriculture under the social welfare code be examined and consideration be given to facilitating a spouse of a farmer to make a social insurance contribution or to have a social insurance contribution made on his or her behalf; and that such a social insurance contribution would give rise to the same benefits attached to the social insurance contribution made by the farmer. 1.3The Committee recommends that the provision in the tax code that provides for payment to be made to members of the farm family be publicised to a greater extent. To ensure the continued participation of women in the agricultural sector the Committee also recommends that these tax provisions be improved further. 1.4The Committee recommends that both spouses in a farm family have the option of gaining on-farm income in order to access individualised tax allowances and PRSI entitlements or off-farm employment. 2.Recommendation in relation to enhancing existing advisory services: The Committee recommends that the ADM Ltd. Small holders Initiative and the Rural Viability Service operated by Teagasc receive additional funding to enable the provision to farm families of comprehensive advice on- (a)all the options available to protect the viability of the farm, and (b)the manner in which direct income can be maximised through farm management practices and optimum utilisation of all EU and national schemes such as area aid and livestock premia. 3.Recommendations regarding services provided by other Government Departments: 3.1The Committee notes that women farmers have concerns about the means testing of the Carers Allowance. The Committee understands that the Programme of Expenditure Review of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs includes proposals for- (a)a new social insurance benefit which would provide benefits out of which care recipients could meet some or all of the costs of their own care, and (b)the introduction of a non-means tested “continual care payment” which would involve the introduction of a system for assessing the needs of both carer and the care recipient. The Committee recommends the implementation of these proposals. 3.2.1The Committee recommends that the various agencies funding rural transport initiatives co-operate, under the direction of the Department of Public Enterprise, to ensure that an effective policy on rural transport is developed. 3.2.2The Committee believes that the production of audits of local transport needs by the County Development Boards is important for the effective use of the funds available under the National Development Plan; and that such an audit process must be cognisant of the need of rural women for accessible transport. 3.2.3The Committee recommends greater co-operation between the County Development Boards and the Department of Public Enterprise. ________________ John Browne, T.D., (Wexford) Chairman of the Committee 29 November, 2000 IMEACHTAÍ AN CHOMCHOISTEPROCEEDINGS OF THE JOINT COMMITTEEDé Chéadaoin, 29 Samhain, 2000 Wednesday, 29th November, 2000 1.The Committee met at 10.05 a.m. 2.Members Present: The following Members were present: Deputies John Browne (Wexford)(in the Chair), Blaney, Brady, Collins, Connaughton, Dukes, Kelleher, Michael P. Kitt, Penrose, Sheehan and Stanton; and Senators Callanan, Rory Kiely and O’Brien. 3.Resolved: To go into private session at 11.45 a.m. 4.Draft Report on the Role of Women in Agriculture and Related Matters Deputy Alan Dukes brought forward a report on the Role of Women in Agriculture and related matters which was agreed to. Ordered: To report accordingly. Ordered: That the Report be printed and published. 5.Adjournment The Committee adjourned at 11.50 a.m. until Wednesday, 20 December at 11.30 a.m. APPENDIX 1: MEMBERS OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE
APPENDIX 2: ORDERS OF REFERENCE OF THE JOINT COMMITTEEDáil Éireann13th November, 1997, (** 28th April, 1998), Ordered: (1) (a)That a Select Committee, which shall be called the Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, consisting of 14 members of Dáil Éireann (of whom 4 shall constitute a quorum), be appointed to consider such— (i)Bills the statute law in respect of which is dealt with by the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, and (ii)Estimates for Public Services within the aegis of those Departments, as shall be referred to it by Dáil Éireann from time to time. (b)For the purpose of its consideration of Bills under paragraph (1)(a)(i), the Select Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 78A(1), (2) and (3). (c)For the avoidance of doubt, by virtue of their ex officio membership of the Select Committee in accordance with Standing Order 84(1), the Minister for Agriculture and Food and the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (or a Minister or Minister of State nominated in their stead) shall be entitled to vote. (2) (a)The Select Committee shall be joined with a Select Committee to be appointed by Seanad Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider— (i)such public affairs administered by the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources as it may select, including bodies under the aegis of those Departments in respect of Government policy, (ii)such matters of policy for which the Ministers in charge of those Departments are officially responsible as it may select, (iii)the strategy statement laid before each House of the Oireachtas by the Ministers in charge of those Departments pursuant to section 5(2) of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, and shall be authorised for the purposes of section 10 of that Act, ** (iv)such Annual Reports or Annual Reports and Accounts, required by law and laid before either or both Houses of the Oireachtas, of bodies under the aegis of the Department(s) specified in paragraph 2(a)(i), and the overall operational results, statements of strategy and corporate plans of these bodies, as it may select. Provided that the Joint Committee shall not, at any time, consider any matter relating to such a body which is, which has been, or which is, at that time, proposed to be considered by the Committee of Public Accounts pursuant to the Orders of Reference of that Committee and/or the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993. Provided further that the Joint Committee shall refrain from inquiring into in public session, or publishing confidential information regarding, any such matter if so requested either by the body or by the Minister in charge of that Department; and (v)such other matters as may be jointly referred to it from time to time by both Houses of the Oireachtas, and shall report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas. (b)The quorum of the Joint Committee shall be 5, of whom at least 1 shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and 1 a member of Seanad Éireann. (c)The Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 78A(1) to (9) inclusive. (3)The Chairman of the Joint Committee, who shall be a member of Dáil Éireann, shall also be Chairman of the Select Committee. Seanad Éireann19th November, 1997, (** 30th April, 1998), Ordered: (1) (a)That a Select Committee consisting of 5 members of Seanad Éireann shall be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee of Dáil Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider— (i)such public affairs administered by the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources as it may select, including bodies under the aegis of those Departments in respect of Government policy, (ii)such matters of policy for which the Ministers in charge of those Departments are officially responsible as it may select, (iii)the strategy statement laid before each House of the Oireachtas by the Ministers in charge of those Departments pursuant to section 5(2) of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, and shall be authorised for the purposes of section 10 of that Act, ** (iv)such Annual Reports or Annual Reports and Accounts, required by law and laid before either or both Houses of the Oireachtas, of bodies under the aegis of the Department(s) specified in paragraph 1(a)(i), and the overall operational results, statements of strategy and corporate plans of these bodies, as it may select. Provided that the Joint Committee shall not, at any time, consider any matter relating to such a body which is, which has been, or which is, at that time, proposed to be considered by the Committee of Public Accounts pursuant to the Orders of Reference of that Committee and/or the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993. Provided further that the Joint Committee shall refrain from inquiring into in public session, or publishing confidential information regarding, any such matter if so requested either by the body or by the Minister in charge of that Department; and (v)such other matters as may be jointly referred to it from time to time by both Houses of the Oireachtas, and shall report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas. (b)The quorum of the Joint Committee shall be 5, of whom at least 1 shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and 1 a member of Seanad Éireann. (c)The Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 62A(1) to (9) inclusive. (2)The Chairman of the Joint Committee shall be a member of Dáil Éireann. |
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