Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to ensure that State boards have at least 40% of each gender, as provided for in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22546/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I fully support the commitment in relation to gender balance in the composition of State Board appointments.

I wish to inform the Deputy, that following the Government Decision regarding new procedures for Appointments to State Boards, I have publically sought Expressions of Interest for appointments for vacancies which arise in bodies under the aegis of my Department in 2011.

Under the new process of making future appointments it will be an objective of mine to further the commitment in the Programme for Government that all State Boards should have at least 40% of each gender. I have recently appointed one male and one female to the Board of the ESB.