1 Mrs. Barnes asked the Taoiseach the person who now has ministerial responsibility for women's affairs including the compiling and presenting of progress reports from Government Departments to (1) the Oireachtas and (2) European, United Nations and other international fora.

The achievement of equal status and equal opportunities for women is a matter which arises across the whole range of Government policy-making. For this reason, the terms of reference of all members of Government are to advance the position and status of women in all aspects of their responsibility.

Since 1987, a Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, had a monitoring and co-ordinating role on all aspects of Government policy as they affect women. On 15 November 1991, I announced certain changes at Minister of State level and, in doing so, I also made it clear that the Government will reallocate responsibilities among Ministers of State in the near future. An announcement in relation to this reallocation will be made shortly.

Without pre-empting the announcement by the Taoiseach regarding this appointment, can we take it that there will be a junior Minister responsible for women's affairs?

That is the intention.

In view of the Taoiseach's statement that it is also the responsibility of every Government Department to introduce an equality policy, what affirmative action is taking place at Government Department level? Will a report on the monitoring of such progress be presented to the Oireachtas Committee on Women's Rights in the near future, as was hoped when Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn held office?

Yes, I will look into that and see what can we can do.