Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 845: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the recommendations from the report of the advisory committee on the role of women in agriculture which have been implemented to date; the further progress which remains to be achieved to fully implement the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24321/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In 1999, my predecessor established an advisory committee to advise on the role of women in agriculture and rural communities. Membership of the advisory committee was drawn from a wide variety of relevant governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. The advisory committee's report, published in September 2000, contained 36 recommendations in total, covering a very broad range of policy and operational areas. These areas were as follows: statistical evaluation of women farmers; employment, training and information technology; representation; social inclusion, and personal finance-economic and legal issues.

While recognising the contribution of women to Irish agriculture, it is clear from an analysis of the recommendations that the advisory committee's central concerns related to broader issues affecting women in rural communities more generally.

A range of developments, including the establishment of a national rural development forum, overtook some of the recommendations of the advisory committee's report. This meets in open session twice a year and provides a forum for continued attention to many of the issues raised in the report. It should also be noted that, subsequent to the publication of the report, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaelteacht Affairs was established. In addition, elements of the report were incorporated into the national plan for women, published in 2002 by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. My Department is currently actively engaged with the interdepartmental group, chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, which is tasked with the formulation of a new national women's strategy.

Notwithstanding the change of remit of my Department and the aforementioned developments, my Department has pursued the advisory committee's recommendations and a comprehensive report on the recommendations was finalised in January 2004. This shows that all of the recommendations were taken into account by the relevant Departments and agencies. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be sent to the Deputy. This report is also available on the 2004 publications page of my Department's website www.agriculture.gov.ie.