Ms Julie Sinnamon:

On the question of publicjobs.ieand women, or anyone, putting their names forward, encouragement plays an important role in this. We can refer back to the issue of role models and how success can encourage other people to do it. In the past couple of weeks, when we were talking about women on boards at the 30% Club, role models were put forward as examples of females appointed to State boards. There are registers of females who have put their names forward. There are lists of people who are available. These people have to put their hands up and put their names forward and should be encouraged to do so by their network of people. Some people within the room were giving their experience and encouraging it. It will take time for people to realise there is a different process in place and to put their names forward. However, it will have to come from the people who are interested in doing it and who have the skills set to do so. These are people such as Vivian Jupp. There are registers of people who are suitable. There are lots of people with appropriate skills, not just for public boards but for all sorts of public companies and any private company looking for board members. They will have to raise their hands.

In terms of communication and encouraging more entrepreneurship, the programme starts in schools, including at second level. In some countries, they are doing a lot at first level. It is from day 1 in terms of encouraging it, through the school programmes, universities, boards and companies. While I am not in favour of quotas, there is merit in putting, at times, a spotlight on certain figures within companies and reporting on this. In some countries, they have reported on women on boards and in senior positions. This has put a spotlight on the issue. It is not a quota, but it makes people think about the process. Getting role models to visit schools, universities and colleges from day one is important.

In terms of competitors and the entrepreneurship agenda, we constantly look at what happens in other countries.

For example, when we were looking at female entrepreneurship, as Australia is a country that is listed as having had success in this space, we looked at Australia. Ms Jean O'Sullivan may wish to comment in this regard.