Vol. 548 No. 4
24 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason he has failed to maintain a gender balance in relation to recent appointments to the board of Bord na gCon; his plans to rectify this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4961/02]
59 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason he decided to drop all women appointees to Bord na gCon; if the Government has changed its policy of gender balance on State boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4910/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 59 together.
I am committed to the policies of equality and gender balance and have actively promoted these policies at all times. In making appointments to State boards my record on gender balance is very good. However, I regret that on this occasion when making the recent appointments to Bord na gCon I was unable to meet the guideline.
