Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his answer. It is a good and positive advance that vacancies in these boards are publicised on the websites of Departments and that chairpersons come to Oireachtas committees and give an account of their vision. However, I note that an Oireachtas committee cannot prevent the appointment of a chairperson. I made the case previously to the Taoiseach that a real democratic revolution would be in place if Oireachtas committees had the same status as committees on Capitol Hill have, which can actually stop such appointments. Perhaps that is work for another day.

Can the Taoiseach give us some sense, in respect of boards under his auspices or those of his Department, as to what percentage of board members are women? Has the Government considered any additional measures to secure gender equality or advance that objective? The Taoiseach may recall that recently there was considerable controversy during the industrial dispute involving Bus Éireann when we discovered the chairperson of the board was resident in Dubai. Does the Taoiseach know if any other chairs of State boards are resident abroad, including those under his Department?

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