Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Foreign Affairs

United Nations Resolutions

10:00 am

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will respond to the concerns shared by a number of non-governmental organisations that in developing its national action plan for the implantation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Government failed to conduct a broad and inclusive consultation process; if he will confirm that the eight essential steps contained in the best practice guide entitled UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Towards an Effective and Inclusive Irish National Action Plan will inform the national action plan. [29692/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply of 22 June last to Parliamentary Question number 26769/10 regarding the extensive consultation process undertaken by my Department as part of the development of Ireland's National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325.

The guide referred to by the Deputy is a welcome addition to the extensive literature already in existence on how to shape a National Action Plan. The eight steps mentioned in this recent publication have informed the work of developing the draft National Action Plan and are an important input to the process. They reflect ideas which have been conveyed by civil society members of the consultative group on 1325, which was established to advise on the drafting of the Plan.

The National Women's Council of Ireland and the Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence were invited to select participants to contribute to the group's work and the Department also nominated other experts to become involved in its work.

A comprehensive audit of Government activity in the areas covered by UNSCR 1325 was also conducted and replies were received from the Departments of Defence and Justice, incorporating responses from the Permanent Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána. My Department also conducted an audit of its own activities and a submission was received from the civil society organisations present on the consultative group. The structure and content of the draft National Action Plan, currently being prepared, draws on the Resolution itself and deals with the key issues of participation, protection and gender perspectives. The draft also proposes a monitoring framework which sets out clear actions and indicators, and allocates responsibility to a specific Government body, with clear timelines for each action.

The success of the National Action Plan will depend on effective monitoring and evaluation and I look forward to further discussions with civil society representatives as to how best this can be achieved.

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