Written answers
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Appointments to State Boards
Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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429. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the present gender balance of the total members of State boards under the aegis of his Department; if the ratio has changed significantly over the course of the present Government's term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36784/13]
Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The information request by the Deputy relating to gender balance on the State Boards funded from my Department's Group is set out in the table below.
| Name | Currently Serving | Male | Female | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| An Foras Teanga | 16 | 12 | 4 | 25% |
| Ulster Scots Agency | 8 | 4 | 4 | 50% |
| Údarás na Gaeltachta | 11 | 9 | 2 | 22% |
| National Library of Ireland | 11 | 7 | 4 | 36% |
| National Gallery of Ireland | 15 | 13 | 2 | 13% |
| National Museum of Ireland | 15 | 10 | 5 | 33% |
| National Concert Hall | 15 | 6 | 9 | 60% |
| Irish Museum of Modern Art | 8 | 5 | 3 | 38% |
| Crawford Art Gallery | 8 | 6 | 2 | 25% |
| Irish Film Board | 7 | 4 | 3 | 42% |
| Arts Council | 13 | 6 | 7 | 54% |
| Heritage Council | 16 | 8 | 8 | 50% |
| National Archives Advisory Council | 12 | 6 | 6 | 50% |
| Irish Manuscripts Commission | 20 | 12 | 8 | 40% |
As the Deputy will note, many of the bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group are already reaching, and in some cases exceeding, the gender targets set out in the Programme for Government. While I recognise that more work needs to be done to improve the gender balance on certain boards, I can assure the Deputy that efforts are continuing to ensure that board membership in all relevant bodies includes at least 40% of each gender, as provided for in the Programme for Government. It should be noted that, in a number of the boards in question, appointments may be other than by way of Government or Ministerial appointment - for example, on foot of nominations by other bodies, or by way of elections, or on an ex officio basis. Clearly, this limits the influence that can be brought to bear on the gender balance of such boards. I would point out to the Deputy, however, that in the case of three sets of board appointments where such restrictions did not apply and where all members were appointed by me, as the Minister, I took steps to ensure that the gender target of 40% was, in fact, exceeded – National Concert Hall Board (60%), Heritage Council Board (50%) and Irish Film Board (42%).
As the Deputy is aware, my Department was established in June 2011 and, accordingly, it is not feasible to provide comparative data of the nature referred to in the Question.
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