Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The persons on the list compiled were mostly academic and exceptionally well qualified. The positions were not advertised. The persons on the list compiled by the Department were included on the basis of their experience and expertise. That is not to say, however, that in the future advertisements will not be issued. If the Deputy reads the list of appointees, he will see they have a broad range of expertise. I have not met great numbers of them.

In respect of a range of appointments to be made, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport advertised; the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources advertised for Bord na Móna, An Post and the Ordnance Survey; the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht advertised; the Department of Finance advertised; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine advertised; the Department of Children and Youth Affairs advertised; the Department of Health advertised; the Department of Social Protection advertised, etc. I like to think that over a period we can increase the percentage of women appointed to boards. I recall, way back in the 1990s, that the then Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Mervyn Taylor, used be very conscientious about requiring appointments to be based in so far as was possible on a ratio of 50:50. In whatever limited appointments can be made by my Department - mostly to the NESC - I will be anxious to ensure the level of female members is increased.

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