Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the average industrial wage earned by a male worker and female worker respectively; the average male earnings and average female earnings generally; if she plans additional measures to help bridge the male-female earnings gap; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44915/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Data from the CSO quarterly industrial survey shows that average industrial earnings per hour for male industrial workers on adult rates in June 2007 was €16.62. The average rate for female industrial workers was €12.73. The CSO National Employment Survey for October 2006 showed that average hourly earnings were €20.50 for males and €17.67 for females. The latter figures cover the entire economy in October 2006, excluding employees in agriculture, forestry and fishing. The gender pay gap has fallen consistently and is now below the EU average of 15%. The most recent official figures from EUROSTAT, which relate to 2006, put the Irish gender pay gap at 9%, placing us fourth lowest among the 27 member states. This compares with a rate of 14% in 2003, showing a drop of 5% in three years. However, EUROSTAT acknowledges that the data are provisional and therefore may not be wholly comparable between member states. Addressing the factors behind the gender pay gap is a multifaceted task involving a number of Departments and agencies as outlined in the National Women's Strategy 2007-2016, which was launched last year by the Taoiseach. The overall co-ordination of the strategy is led by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The introduction of the national minimum wage in 2000 has had a positive impact on women who were previously more likely to receive very low wages in sectors which were predominantly female. My Department is responsible for chairing and providing the secretariat for the national framework committee on work-life balance policies. The committee, which was established under the social partnership process, comprises representatives from IBEC, ICTU, the Equality Authority and a number of Departments. The committee has undertaken and continues to undertake a range of activities to raise awareness and encourage the provision of work-life balance at enterprise level, including the provision of financial assistance to organisations, information dissemination activities, seminars and research, etc. These activities may help to encourage greater female participation in the workforce, including at senior levels which in turn can help to narrow the earnings gap. Similarly, Expanding the Workforce, which is run by FÁS, is aimed at proactively encouraging women to return to work. The initiative facilitates women returnees by ensuring that training is provided in a flexible manner and is tailored to meet business requirements and skills needs of employers.