Vol. 483 No. 6
44 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the report recently presented to him prepared by the National Women's Council on the subject of gender balance on State boards. [20320/97]
I have examined the report prepared by the National Women's Council of Ireland, entitled "Who Makes the Decisions in 1997?" which was recently launched by the Taoiseach.
My Department monitors the position of women on State boards on an ongoing basis. At end September 1997, according to the analysis done in my Department, women constituted almost 28 per cent of total membership of State boards and 35 per cent on ministerial/ governmental nominees. Women comprised 18.2 per cent of chairs of such boards. These figures are very similar to the findings of the National Women's Council of Ireland's report, which covers the situation at June to September, 1997.
I intend to continue the policy objective of gender balance of State boards, with a minimum target of 40 per cent of women and men in direct appointments.
I will also continue to encourage nominating bodies to adopt a similar policy.
