Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There have been a number of engagements between the body in question and my Department during the period outlined. Myself and an official from my Department, along with Ministers of State Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon, met with the National Women’s Council on 15th September 2021. The meeting agenda was to discuss the National Women’s Council submission on the draft CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027.

The National Women’s Council of Ireland also made a submission to the public consultation on Food Vision 2030.

A representative from the National Women’s Council of Ireland telephoned my Department on 30th July 2021, to discuss work on gender equality in farming.

My Department is a member of the Strategy Committee for the National Strategy for Women and Girls of which the National Women’s Council of Ireland is a member. In the period from 1st January 2019 to 21st February 2022, the Committee met on eight occasions, three in-person and five in virtual session.

My Department also engaged with a representative from the National Women’s Council in October and November 2022, regarding their participation in an evaluation panel of proposals submitted under Topic 2 (Women in Farming – Examining the visibility, equality and status of women in farming in Ireland) of the Department’s 2022 Policy and Strategic Studies Research Call.

As regards the 13 state bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested in relation to their engagement with the National Womens Council of Ireland is a matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to these bodies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.