Council for the Status of Women funding
Howlin asked whether the Council could continue operating after a 36% funding cut. The Taoiseach said he was committed to its successful operation, while noting that reductions affected agencies and bodies broadly.
I do not wish to dwell unduly on any of the questions as there are a number of questions for answer by the Taoiseach today. The Deputies should be brief.
Comment on this
Will the Taoiseach accept that the Council for the Status of Women cannot function with a cut of 36 per cent in their allocation for this year? Is it Government policy that they should be allowed to function or is it Government policy that they should cease to function?
Comment on this
The Deputy is addressing that question to the person who, more than anybody else, was responsible for bringing the Council for the Status of Women into being. I know some of the women concerned will make the point that various voluntary organisations came together and constituted the Council for the Status of Women but I always like to claim that it arose out of my action many years ago in establishing the Commission on the Status of Women. I am totally committed to the idea of the successful operation of the Council for the Status of Women but unfortunately at present all agencies, bodies and Departments have to take substantial cutbacks in their allocations. I hope that, when the budgetary situation improves, greater funds can be made available at the earliest possible moment, not alone to the Council for the Status of Women but for all the other agencies in that area.