Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 751: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 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. [22533/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government has decided that new arrangements will be put in place for the making of appointments to State boards which will ensure that all appointees have the relevant qualifications and will facilitate achieving gender balance on boards. This involves broadening the pool from which Board directors are appointed by publically seeking expressions of interest for such appointments

My Department have already commenced this process and, with the assistance of the Public Appointments Service, have sought expressions of interest. In making future appointments, I will be fully cognisant of the commitment in the Programme for Government that all State Boards should have at least 40% of each gender.

It should be noted that of the more than 280 people who have contacted my office to express an interest in serving on state boards through this process, less than 50 were women. I will shortly be issuing a new call for expressions of interest on a rolling basis. To help redress this imbalance, I would encourage as many qualified and interested women to apply.