Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Mar 2001

Vol. 533 No. 2

Written Answers. - Ministerial Appointments.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

28 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of persons appointed to boards, committees or task forces under the aegis of his Department since July 1997; and the proportion which was female; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8400/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

There have been 144 appointments made in total in relation to the Cultural Relations Committee, the Fulbright Commission, the Refugee Agency, Irish Aid Advisory Council, APSO and the National Committee for Development Education since 1997. Of these appointments 70 were women and 74 men. The proportion of women appointed is therefore 48.6%.

In addition to the above boards and committees, the Joint Department of Foreign Affairs-NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights also functions under the auspices of this Department. The committee, established in 1997, consists of 11 NGO representatives and four expert members. As the NGO representatives do not attend in a personal capacity, it is not possible to give a gender breakdown for the composition of the committee. However, at the most recent meeting of the committee 50% of those attending as NGO representatives-experts were women.