Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Gender Equality

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1157. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s top priorities for advancing women’s rights in the next five years. [46497/24]

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1158. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department measures progress on gender equality and women’s rights; and how his Department plans on holding itself accountable for meeting its goals. [46498/24]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1157 and 1158 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, my time as Minister is at an end, and it will be for the next Government to progress work in this critically important area.

My Department leads on cross-government policy to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and the National Strategy for Women and Girls (NSWG) 2017-2021 provided a whole-of-Government framework through which women’s rights continue to be advanced. While initially due to conclude in 2020, the Strategy was extended in recognition of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on its implementation.

My Department is currently developing a successor to the NSWG and a stakeholder consultation was completed at the end of 2024, with the report on the consultation being prepared. This consultation has sought input from both the general public and representatives from across civil society. A National Youth Assembly was convened in September 2024 to attain the views of young people, specifically what gender equality looks like in their lives. These perspectives will inform that priorities of the next National Strategy for Women and Girls.

A separate evaluation of the implementation of the last National Strategy for Women and Girls was undertaken by the Centre for Effective Services. It includes recommendations on developing indicators to measure performance in respect of the successor strategy. These recommendations will inform the development of robust implementation measures for the next strategy.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.