Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

407. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reflect and deliver on a public duty (details supplied) in his Department's statement of strategy due to be published in October 2016; the way in which his Department is engaging with the programme for a partnership Government commitment to equality and gender proofing in the departmental and budgetary process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28307/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is in the process of drafting its new Statement of Strategy and will explicitly address its obligations in relation to the Public Sector Duty, human rights and equality issues. My Department also looks forward to engaging further with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission with a view to embedding the principles of the Public Sector Duty across the work of the Department.

The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a number of important commitments in relation to equality and gender proofing in the budgetary process as a means of advancing equality, reducing poverty and strengthening economic and social rights. My colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, has lead responsibility on this and I understand that he will provide a detailed response to the Deputy on this matter.