with invited guest speakers:
Christina McKelvie (SNP), Emma Ritch (Engender Scotland) and Eilís Ní Chathnía (NWCI)
Senator Alice-Mary Higgins has stated that gender and equality proofing of the Budget will lead to better fiscal decisions and better outcomes for everyone in society.
Senator Higgins’ comments come as she hosts a lunchtime discussion for Oireachtas members involved in the Women's Caucus on the subject of Gender Budgeting on Tuesday 13th June in Leinster House.
Senator Higgins welcomes special guests Christina McKelvie (Member of Scottish Parliament and Convenor of the Scottish Parliament's Equalities and Human Rights Committee), Emma Ritch (Executive Director, Engender Scotland) and Eilís Ní Chathnía (Policy Officer, National Women's Council of Ireland).
Senator Alice-Mary Higgins said today, “When I was elected to Seanad Éireann on the NUI panel, I committed to continue my work for equality, including equality between men and women. In organising this event, I want to contribute to greater awareness and understanding amongst my fellow policy makers on the importance of gender budgeting and how, if implemented properly, it can help lead to better decisions and budgets that work for everyone.
“To offer just one example, the disproportionate cuts which women in our pension system have suffered in recent years are the kind of thing that might have been avoided if Ireland had applied a gender budgeting perspective.
“I look forward to working with parliamentarians from all parties and none to encourage the Government to deliver its commitment to gender and equality proofing in Budget 2018 and beyond."
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to ensuring that "the institutional arrangements are in place to support equality and gender proofing in the independent fiscal and budget office and within key government departments.” However, work in advancing this commitment is still at an early stage in Ireland.
In Scotland, equality and gender proofing are an established part of the budgetary process. Indeed, a formal 'Equality Statement' is produced to accompany each year’s budget.
MSP Christina McKelvie and Engender Scotland’s Emma Ritch will share their extensive experience in this area, offering practical insights into how gender budgeting operates in Scotland and discussing the benefits it can bring to society and economy.
Emma Ritch, Executive Director of Engender Scotland said, “The most successful gender budgeting programmes around the world involve strong partnerships between parliament, government, and civil society.”
“I am delighted to be here with Christina McKelvie MSP to meet with Irish parliamentarians and officials to share what we have learned in Scotland and support this new gender budgeting initiative.”
“The prize is a budget, including taxation and spending plans, that more accurately reflects and responds to the needs of a country's citizens."
Eilís Ní Chathnía (NWCI) will discuss the measures currently underway around gender proofing in the Irish context and some of the possible next steps for Ireland.
In addition to meeting with members involved in the Women's Caucus, MSP Christina McKelvie and Emma Ritch will be meeting with TDs from the Oireachtas Budgetary Oversight Committee.
—ENDS—
Issued: Monday 12th June 2017
Senators Eileen Flynn, Alice Mary Higgins, Lynn Ruane and Frances Black spoke about celebrating the contributions of Travellers to Irish public life and wished everyone a happy Traveller Pride Week. The Senators also discussed the important work ahead to fight for real equality for Travellers in Irish society.
The Higher Education Authority Bill will have a major impact on staff, students & society. I proposed over 100 amendments. Following strong criticism of use of guillotine at Committee stage, Report stage has been adjourned, meaning there is still chance to improve crucial aspects of Bill.
One of the key issues I raised was the importance of trade union representation from both professional & academic staff on governance boards as well as proper national strategies to challenge the serious problem of precarious low paid work within academia.
The proposed definition of student union in the Bill is not fit for purpose & based around recognition from Minister or governing authority rather then electoral mandate from students. Students union representatives from right across country have made it clear this needs to be fixed!
The Bill will give huge amount of power & discretion to Minister, including requirement for higher education institutions to comply with future policy docs of Government. Bill must be amended to ensure appropriate independence, transparency & autonomy for both HEA & individual institutions.
Another core aspect we sought to address was embedding equality, equity, access and participation into the legislation and creating legal requirements that both HEA & individual institutions policies are furthering & empowering access to & equity in our higher education system.
The Bill continues the practice of focusing entirely on private research & not looking to public/blue skies research or public-public partnerships for research. To address issues like climate, inequality and sustainable development we need a robust public research system
The references to sustainability & environment in the Bill are woefully outdated & inadequate, coming from a 1987 pre-Rio definition of “environmental development”. I sought to include the definition based on the SDGs with acknowledgement of historical responsibility & climate justice.
Following pressure from Senators, the debate has adjourned till September & there is time for Minister Harris to work constructively with us as legislators & with stakeholders to address these & other issues. The HEA Bill will underpin higher education for years to come, we need to get it right!