Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to include a gender quota in respect of the appointment of chairpersons of State boards; if so, the quota that will be set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11691/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government 2011 - 2016 includes a commitment to take steps to ensure that all State Boards have at least 40 per cent of each gender. Composite data on women's participation on State Boards during 2010 will be made available to the Government shortly and are expected to show that about 34 per cent of places on Boards were held by women in 2010. However a smaller percentage of women chair these State Boards at present. My colleague, Ms Kathleen Lynch T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Older People, Equality and Mental Health is currently chairing a working group which is looking at the advancement of women into leadership and decision-making roles including on State and Corporate Boards. The report of that group will be available in the Autumn and I will consider its findings before making proposals to Government in relation to the introduction of quotas on the appointment of chairpersons.