Vol. 429 No. 3
204 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform when he will be in a position to implement in full the recommendation of the Commission on the Status of Women to appoint a minimum of 40 per cent of women or men to State boards; if he accepts this recommendation as policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In line with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government has taken a decision to establish minimum 40 per cent representation of each gender in direct appointments to the boards of State bodies.
Each Minister will be responsible for implementing this policy with regard to State bodies in his/her area of responsibility. The aim is to achieve the gender balance within four years. In addition, each Minister will advise bodies nominating persons to boards under his/her aegis of the Government's policy on gender balance and ask them to follow a similar policy.
