Olwyn Enright
Ceist:19 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will ensure that he will appoint at least 40% of women to the State boards under his control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11067/03]
Written Answers. - Ministerial Appointments.
I am fully conscious of the Government guidelines in relation to the appointment of women to State boards, and I am happy to say that since my appointment as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism I have appointed nine women to State boards under the aegis of my Department. As I stated during the recent passage of the National Tourism Development Authority Bill, I will shortly be making appointments to the board of the new National Tourism Development Authority. I fully intend, in so far as is practicable, to endeavour to ensure that among the members of the authority there is an equitable balance between men and women. Moreover, the Arts Bill, Report Stage of which will shortly come before the Dáil, specifies that 50% of ordinary members of the Arts Council shall be women and 50% men.