Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 October 2021
665. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of State boards under the remit of his Department or its agencies in tabular form; the number of members of each board; the number of women on each board; and the percentage of each board that is made up of women. [49553/21]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy in relation to the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is outlined in the table attached.
|
State Body |
Total Number of Places on the Board (Including the Chairperson) |
Total Number currently sitting on the Board (Including the Chairperson) |
Total Number of Male members |
Total Number of Women Members |
Percentage of each board that is made up of women (% of currently sitting board members) |
|
Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board (ALAB) |
7 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
14% |
|
Bord Bia |
15 |
11 |
8 |
3 |
27% |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
6 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
60% |
|
Rásaíocht Con Éireann - (formerly Bord na gCon) |
7 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
33% |
|
Coillte |
9 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
43% |
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
14 |
14 |
10 |
4 |
29% |
|
Irish National Stud |
7 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
43% |
|
Marine Institute |
9 |
8 |
5 |
3 |
38% |
|
National Milk Agency |
16 |
16 |
14 |
2 |
13% |
|
Sea Fisheries Protection Authority |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0% |
|
Teagasc |
11 |
11 |
7 |
4 |
36% |
|
Veterinary Council of Ireland |
19 |
19 |
12 |
7 |
37% |
I am committed to achieving the Government target of 40% gender balance on the Boards of State Bodies set out by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in 2014 and the table shows progress made so far.
In relation to six of the State Bodies under the aegis of the Department, some of the board appointments are made by me on the basis of nominations from third-party organisations for specified vacancies as set out in legislation. These State Bodies are the Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board, Bord Bia, Horse Racing Ireland, National Milk Agency, Teagasc and the Veterinary Council of Ireland. I encourage the relevant organisations to be pro-active in encouraging women within their membership to be nominated for appointment to these Boards.
I continue to take every opportunity to achieve gender balance on the Boards of State Bodies under the aegis of the Department.
