Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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12. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which she expects to receive the Higher Education Authority report on gender equality in third level colleges, following the recent audit which the authority initiated. [21931/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The HEA has recently initiated a system-wide review of higher education institutions' gender profiles and gender equality policies which will encompass all higher education institutions under its remit. The review will analyse the status quoin higher education in respect of gender equality, examine the reasons for continuing gender inequality among staff across the sector and make recommendations to address this. These will include recommendations on how higher education institutions can enhance their equality policies and the implementation of those policies, as well as recommendations on how the HEA, my Department and other relevant bodies can support those institutions in that regard. The review is expected to conclude in June 2016 and will involve self-evaluation by the institutions concerned, as well as site visits by a review team.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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The reason I put down this question is due to the significant concerns at NUI Galway where four female lecturers have taken gender equality cases, three of whom have taken High Court cases and one who has gone to a tribunal. Professor Pat O’Connor, from the University of Limerick, an expert in gender equality, has turned down an invitation from the task force to advise it on gender inequality in third level institutions.

The task force has been given the power to establish its own terms of reference, which, in my opinion, is a mistake. They should have been done independently and given to the task force. The terms of reference have been criticised by IFUT and SIPTU, which give full backing to the female lecturers in NUI Galway. Has the Minister seen the terms of reference? If not, why not? Will she also comment on the composition of the task force itself, which Professor Pat O'Connor has said is not made up of people with expertise in the area of gender equality?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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On the Galway situation, I have made my concerns very clear regarding the shortcomings identified by the Equality Tribunal, specifically in the case of Dr. Sheehy Skeffington. The fact that NUI Galway unreservedly accepted this and established a task force is to be welcomed. I have again stated clearly that the task force needs to have the confidence of people in NUI Galway and the body of the university. I have urged NUI Galway to make every effort to ensure it has this confidence. I have already stated these views.

There is no doubt that higher education in Ireland has not promoted women in a way that would be expected in terms of the general population and the number of women academics. The fact that an Irish woman was recently given the most senior job in Oxford is an indication there is nothing wrong with Irish women's ability to have high office in universities. I strongly support the carrying out of the review. I have not seen the terms of reference. I have detail on what is intended to be done by the review team, but I have not seen the specific terms of reference. I am not certain whether they have been specifically drafted - I will check - but I have been given an indication of what they will be doing.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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As the Minister is aware, Dr. Sheehy Skeffington won the tribunal and was awarded €70,000, which she has donated towards the legal costs of the High Court action. The fact that the Minister has not seen the terms of reference is an indication of how NUI Galway is approaching the issue. There is considerable criticism from the female lecturers themselves as well as the unions representing them, IFUT and SIPTU, who have said there has been a considerable lack of consultation in drafting the terms of reference. As the Minister pointed out, unless there is confidence in the terms of reference and the ability of the task force to carry out the work it is supposed to carry out to look at gender inequality issues, and unless it has the support of the student body, the trade unions and the female lecturers, it is a dead duck before it even begins.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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To clarify, it is the terms of reference of the HEA review to which I referred when I stated I had not seen them. I have a list of what they will have regard to, including the statutory obligations; the obligations of universities and institutes of technology to prepare and implement equality policies; the complete self-evaluation questionnaires that will be submitted; site visits, which are important; and meetings with those institutions and with members of governing bodies, presidents and other senior officers responsible for equality matters, a cross-section of staff and student representatives of the relevant groups. This is the information I have on what they will look at.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Has the Minister seen the terms of reference for the task force?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy was asking me about the task force. I am aware of the terms of reference of the task force.