Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 12 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 5

Written Answers - Gender Balance.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

20 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the figures for gender balance in regard to State boards or bodies, reflected in the quarterly returns made by other Departments to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11008/01]

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 implementing the Government's gender balance policy in his or her own area. My Department monitors the progress in appointing women to State boards on a quarterly basis and keeps the situation under review.

The figures for membership of State boards on 31 December 2000 show that 28% of the total serving membership were women. This figure needs to be broken down between persons nominated by Ministers and those nominated by others. In the case of ministerial nominees, 34% were women. In the case of nominees by other bodies, 21% were women. Women comprised 18% of chairs of boards.

With regard to appointments made over the year 2000, 36% of the persons nominated by Ministers were women and 24% of those nominated by other bodies were women. I am anxious that more progress is made towards reaching the 40% target. We have to address this matter both in terms of persons nominated by Ministers, where we have more control and where we are nearer to the 40% target, and in terms of persons nominated by other bodies, where the gap between the target and the current position is wider. My Department is reviewing the matter and I hope to be in a position to bring proposals to Cabinet shortly.