Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the findings of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in view of the several areas highlighted in the report for Ireland as requiring improvement. [28466/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the examination of Ireland's combined fourth and fifth reports on progress under the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, was held in New York in July 2005, following the submission of the reports in June 2003.

The CEDAW committee issues concluding comments and recommendations for further action following the examination. These reports were positively received by the committee and the comments were generally favourable. The committee raised a number of issues which it deemed to require some further action including: stereotypical views of the roles of women and men as reflected in the Constitution, education and employment and in women's low participation in political and public life; the need for a comprehensive strategic view and framework for the achievement of gender equality; the need for a strategic approach to combat trafficking in women and girls; the under-representation of women in political structures and at higher levels in the Civil Service; and the barriers faced by vulnerable groups in accessing education, employment, health care and other social services.

My Department has circulated the committee's comments and recommendations to all relevant Departments asking that they consider them and report on how the issues might be advanced before Ireland's next report under CEDAW, which is due for submission to the UN CEDAW committee in January 2007.