I propose to take Questions Nos. 1270, 1272 and 1283 together.
Since 2003, and in accordance with a Government decision, statistics have been collated on the representation of women on State Boards to monitor progress towards the Government target of at least 40 per cent representation of each gender on State Boards. This target was reiterated by the current Government in the Programme for Government for National Recovery 2011-2016.
The following table shows the percentage of women and men on the State Boards of the Department of Justice and Equality for each year from 2003 to 2011. The figures for 2012 are not yet available from my Department. I hope to bring a Memorandum to Government on women’s representation on State Boards in 2011. This will facilitate a discussion on the commitment in the Programme for Government and of the requirement to enhance the position of women on State Boards.
Department of Justice and Equality State Board Figures
Year End
|
Total*
|
Male
|
Male
%
|
Female
|
Female
%
|
2011
|
291
|
185
|
63.6
|
106
|
36.4
|
2010
|
285
|
198
|
69.0
|
87
|
31.0
|
2009
|
199
|
139
|
70.0
|
60
|
30.0
|
2008
|
317
|
223
|
70.3
|
94
|
29.7
|
2007
|
297
|
202
|
68.0
|
95
|
32.0
|
2006
|
289
|
188
|
65.1
|
101
|
34.9
|
2005
|
307
|
192
|
63.0
|
115
|
37.0
|
2004
|
263
|
151
|
56.1
|
112
|
43.9
|
2003
|
276
|
167
|
61.0
|
109
|
39.0
|
*Total number serving on State Boards at year end. This figure does not include any Board vacancies.