Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. She takes these issues seriously and is committed to gender equality. As we are all aware, we are having this final debate on International Women's Day. It is important that a clear message be sent out through the processing of this Bill that academic life is one of the many sections of Irish life in which the full and equal participation of men and women cannot be neglected and must move forward with a renewed energy and pace.

I will not press these amendments at this point, as I am taking the Minister of State's bona fides on this matter. The HEA's national review, in which a former Minister, Ms Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, played an important role, was a strong one, as were its recommendations. Although a number of institutes of technology are beginning to engage with the Athena SWAN charter, I am concerned about the pace of engagement, given the standards they will have to reach to secure research funding. I await with great interest the high-level task force and look forward to engaging with it.

The Minister of State has a considerable personal commitment in this area but we may have other Ministers in future. For that reason, it is important that the task force and equality statements implement clear measures. I will reserve my amendments for now.