Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline, in tabular form, both the number and the percentage of women and men on State boards under the aegis of his Department in each of the past ten years; if he will provide the most up-to-date figures available regarding the number and percentage of women and men on State boards under the aegis of his Department in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38853/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that there are 16 bodies under the aegis of my Department that have boards. Details of the current breakdown between men and women serving on these boards are set out in tabular form.

The Deputy will also appreciate that in making appointments to boards I must have regard to the provisions of the governing legislation as regards members’ qualifications and other related matters.

The Government adopted a significant innovation in 2011 to widen access by all persons to be considered for appointment to Boards by providing that expressions of interest be sought publicly from all those that might be interested in serving on such Boards.

I wish to advise the Deputy that on the 3rd of June 2011 I invited Expressions of Interest from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to vacancies on State Boards under the aegis of my Department, which were expected to occur up to the end of 2011. On 9th February 2012 I invited further Expressions of Interest from persons wishing to serve on any of the Boards under the aegis of my Department.

Notwithstanding this significant innovation, the level of expressions of interest from women has been less than half that of men. Of the 31 applications made in 2011 on foot of the invitation to submit expressions of interest, 10 were from women and 21 from men. In 2012 the total number of applicants was 37 of which 8 were from women and 29 from men.

I indicated at the outset the approach to making appointments and the Deputy will appreciate that appointments to State Boards are made in accordance with the relevant governing statute and the Minister is not obliged to make appointments from tendered expressions of interest but has the discretion to do so if he or she considers it appropriate.

Information in respect of the numbers and percentages of women and men on these boards in the past 10 years is available in their respective Annual Reports. The Reports are available in the library of the Houses of the Oireachtas or by contacting the Boards directly.

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In addition, the Mining Board, an appellate body is chaired by a Senior Counsel. The two ordinary members are required by legislation to be property arbitrators and as there are only two such persons in the state both are Ordinary Members of the Board by virtue of their employment.

This board meets formally only when a case is referred to it and no such cases have been referred to the board for a number of years.

Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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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; the percentage at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39149/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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As the Deputy will no doubt appreciate it is also a key concern of mine to ensure high quality representation on Boards irrespective of gender. I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to seeking to attain the 40% target for both genders on Boards.

The Deputy will also appreciate that in making appointments to boards I must have regard to the provisions of the governing legislation as regards members’ qualifications and other related matters.

The Government adopted a significant innovation in 2011 to widen access by all persons to be considered for appointment to Boards by providing that expressions of interest be sought publicly from all those that might be interested in serving on such Boards.

I wish to advise the Deputy that on the 3rd of June 2011 I invited Expressions of Interest from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to vacancies on State Boards under the aegis of my Department, which were expected to occur up to the end of 2011. On 9th February 2012 I invited further expressions of interest from persons wishing to serve on any of the Boards under the aegis of my Department.

Notwithstanding this significant innovation, the level of expressions of interest from women has been less than half that of men. Of the 31 applications made in 2011 on foot of the invitation to submit expressions of interest, 10 were from women and 21 from men. In 2012 the total number of applicants was 37 of which 8 were from women and 29 from men.

The Table shows the percentage breakdown of men and women serving on boards having regard to the sectors covered by my Department.

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