Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The recommendation referred to by the Deputy is one of a number of submissions received by my Department relating to the development of a national action plan, NAP, on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. As stated in my earlier reply to Question No. 2, the resolution calls for an increase in the participation of women in peacemaking and peace building processes, the protection of women and girls in armed conflict and the incorporation of a gender perspective into peacekeeping and peace building processes. In developing our NAP, a wide-ranging consultation process took place involving Departments and Government agencies, the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána, as well as representatives of civil society and academia. A comprehensive audit of Government activity in the areas covered by the resolution was conducted and civil society engaged in a consultative process with women affected by conflict in Ireland.

I agree with the Deputy that our NAP should include a monitoring and evaluation process that allows progress in implementing the plan to be tracked. I envisage recommending the establishment of a monitoring group whose membership would be reflective of all agencies working in the areas covered by the Security Council resolution, both in Government and civil society. Once the Oireachtas has completed the process of the establishment of its committees, my officials would then engage with the appropriate committee with a view to ensuring that the Oireachtas is informed on progress in implementing the NAP.

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