Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the dates on which his Department has published periodic reports on the implementation of the National Women’s Strategy; the date on which the next periodic report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11560/13]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the implementation on the National Women’s Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11555/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 47 together.

To date, a total of three periodic Progress Reports on the implementation of the National Women’s Strategy have been approved by Government and published as follows:

- Joint 2007/2008 Progress Report on the Implementation of the National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016 – published in July 2009;

- 2009 Progress Report on the Implementation of the National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016 – published in November 2010, and

- 2010 Progress Report on the Implementation of the National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016 – published in December 2011.

Although drafted by the previous Government, the focus of the National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016 is closely linked to the gender equality goals of this Government and to EU gender equality policy. These Reports have detailed significant progress made across the more than 200 actions contained in the National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016. In my own Department, significant achievements should be noted in the areas of Violence against Women and Anti-Human Trafficking measures.

Whilst acknowledging the progress made to date, it is important to recognise that much still needs to be done if we are to achieve de facto gender equality in Ireland. The National Women’s Strategy is an important instrument for achieving this aim and its stated Key Objectives are as relevant now as they were when the Strategy was published in 2007. The Report outlining progress made in implementing the National Women’s Strategy during 2011 is complete and will be presented to Government shortly, and subject to the Government’s approval, it will be published at the earliest opportunity. The delay in this regard, while regrettable, has been due to work pressures associated with the ambitious Gender Equality Programme currently being undertaken as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union. A Mid-Term Review of the Strategy is also being finalised and I expect that this will be presented to Government at the earliest opportunity.