Women’s farm unit ‘not recommended’

THE setting up of a special unit in the Department of Agriculture and Food to promote the interests of farm women was not on the recommendations of an advisory group.

Minister Joe Walsh revealed this when responding to a Dáil question by Labour Party spokesperson Dr Mary Upton TD who asked if he would set up a permanent division in his department for that purpose.

The chairwoman of IFA Farm Family Committee Mary McGrea called for the special unit when she addressed the first national IFA conference on women in agriculture at Croke Park earlier this month.

Mr Walsh said in his reply the advisory group on the role of women in agriculture published its report in September, 2000. It contained 36 recommendations in total, covering a broad range of policy and operational areas, relating to 19 departments and agencies.

These areas were statistical evaluation of women farmers, employment and training, information technology, social inclusion, representation and personal finance.

Action was taken on the recommendations in the advisory group’s report.

“The establishment of a women in agriculture division in my department was not among the recommendations,” he said.

Mr Walsh said the establishment of a National Rural Development Forum, which meets in open session twice a year, provides a forum for continued attention to many of the issues raised.

“My department is preparing a report on the advisory group’s report on the role of women in agriculture,” he said.