Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

With regard to amendment No. 25, under section 5.3 of Sustaining Progress, the Government has outlined its commitment to greater female representation on State boards. Gender balance on State boards will be reviewed with a view to establishing how best to secure a minimum of 40% representation on such boards. I support the Government's commitment to securing greater female representation on State boards and I suspect my track record in this regard is probably one of the best. My recent appointment of Professor Margaret O'Mahony is indicative of that. I try to appoint good people. While I do not like the idea that because one is a man or a woman one is entitled to something, I accept the view that appointments should be well balanced. It brings different perspectives to different issues and I have tried to achieve that. However, it would be inappropriate in the context of the legislative process to specify the gender composition of a board.

With regard to amendments Nos. 26 and 27, I am satisfied that the existing provision in the Bill, which specifies the experience and competence required for a member of the board, is sufficiently detailed and specific to ensure that only persons with the relevant experience or competence are appointed to the board, without the need to specify such requirements in further detail.

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