Ms Mel?osa O'Caoimh:

Unfortunately, I need to leave because I am speaking at something in Trinity College in a few minutes. I have no doubt about the validity of the research that was done and the solution arrived at around quotas. That was clearly the right thing in the field you are talking about. I get that point. Maybe we are looking at something whereby one size does not fit all. I run a business in Ireland as part of a big global organisation. Something amazing is going on in the business world right now that I do not think quotas would serve very well. I can tell that by being in there.

Two main things matter. First, it makes business sense to have diversity in teams. Those teams are more innovative and come up with more ideas. They just look at everything differently. We all know we need diverse teams. One can no longer send five of the same people along to a sales pitch. One will not win the business. It makes business sense to have diverse teams. Second, our stakeholders are demanding diversity. Whether it is our employees, shareholders, clients or customers, they are demanding that they see a company that is thinking in a deeper and more meaningful way about diversity.

I agree with you that there is no such thing as tokenism. However, we are getting to the women earlier. It is a bit like the school story except that, unfortunately, it is later. We are training them up. People are advocating for, sponsoring and bringing women up through. Those women are getting there by earning it in their own right and on merit. We need to think about the wonderful thing happening there. Maybe it is not a one size fits all. I know Ms Harford will do a much better job of giving a good answer-----