Women are playing a key role in council reform, minister acknowledges

Women are playing a critical role in driving forward change in local government and the Assembly, Environment Minister Sammy Wilson claimed today.

The Minister commended the Women in Local Councils Project during a special dinner at Stormont celebrating its work.

Mr Wilson said: “This event celebrates the success of the Women in Local Councils project which should be congratulated for playing a key role in improving the numbers, skills and achievements of women in local government.

“This is vital at such a key time for the sector with local government reform presenting great opportunities. The reform programme is designed to build a strong local government sector. I see it as crucial that women play a participative and equal role in this process.

“My female colleagues in the Assembly and in local government are playing an increasingly important part leading initiatives and driving change – as they should be.

“All organisations can benefit from the mixture of skills and abilities that women can bring. We all need to work together and embrace initiatives like the Women in Local Councils project that empower women to participate fully and equally in all areas of society.”

The Women in Local Councils initiative aims to identify and respond to all forms of gender under-representation in decision making, employment practices, service delivery and partnerships.

Notes to Editors:

1. The initiative is delivered by the Local Government Staff Commission, in partnership with NILGA and other organisations associated with local government in Northern Ireland.

2. The Women in Local Councils dinner is an annual event and this year took place in Parliament Buildings.

3. For media enquiries contact DOE Press Office tel. 028 9054 0003 or out of office hours, call the EIS Duty Press Officer on 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.