Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the contribution his Department has made towards the development of a national women's strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31830/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The National Women's Strategy is being prepared to honour a commitment made both in Sustaining Progress, the social partnership agreement, and in the international forum of CEDAW, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women.

The strategy, which is nearing completion, will be a wide ranging document setting out to foster socio-economic opportunity, well-being and active participation in decision making for women in Ireland over a ten year period, in a context where this country has a strong corpus of equality legislation in place but where women still experience difficulties in achieving true gender equality.

My Department is represented on the Inter-Departmental Committee appointed to undertake the task of preparing the strategy under the chairmanship of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. This Committee has been tasked to

take responsibility for drafting and finalising a National Women's Strategy, as committed to in Sustaining Progress;

consult with the Social Partners and National Women's Council of Ireland, through a Consultation Group, in developing the Strategy; and

advise in relation to a communication plan for the publication and launch of the Strategy.

The draft Strategy is a well structured, broad ranging document which aims to draw together all of the actions of Government which impact upon the lives of women. In relation to my Department, the Strategy will be addressing issues including social inclusion and women's risk of poverty, proposals for supporting lone parents and pension provision for women.

The Inter-Departmental Committee is currently finalising a final draft of the Strategy prior to its submission for further consideration by the Consultation Group. It is hoped that the Strategy will be ready for publication before the end of this year.