Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 1

Written Answers. - Gender Balance.

Dick Spring

Question:

75 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the guidelines which have been issued to Government Departments in order to ensure gender balance when appointments are being made to boards or bodies; the steps which are in place to ensure monitoring of these guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3202/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

Guidelines in the form of a Government decision taken in March 1993 were issued to all Departments.

The Government decided that Ministers should endeavour to have a minimum of 40% of both men and women among the chairs of boards of State bodies and among other persons nominated by Ministers to State bodies under their aegis.

The Government further decided that all Ministers should advise bodies nominating persons to boards under their aegis of the Government's gender balance policy and ask them formally to follow a similar practice.

These guidelines were extended in March 1995 to include advisory committees, visiting committees, committees of a temporary nature etc.

Each Minister is responsible for implementation of the Government's gender balance policy in his or her own area.

Following the Government decision in March 1993, my Department undertook to monitor the position on a quarterly basis with a view to enhancing gender balance. Quarterly returns are submitted by each Department showing the gender composition of the State boards under that Department's aegis.

The figures for membership of State boards on 30 September 2000, show that 29% of the total serving membership were women and 71% were men. In the case of ministerial appointments 34% were women and 66% were men. Women comprised 18% of chairs of boards.