Written answers
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Department of An Taoiseach
Gender Balance Issues
Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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121. To ask the Taoiseach the present gender balance of the total membership of State bodies 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. [39108/13]
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Since coming into office on 9 March 2011, I have made 14 appointments to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) in accordance with the provisions of the NESDO Act 2006 as amended by the NESC (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010. Eight of these appointments, comprising four women and four men were independent members. See full list of appointments in the Table below.
In line with this legislation, I appoint up to 20 members on the basis of nominations from business and employer interests, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, farming and agricultural interests, the community and voluntary sector and the environmental sector.
I may also appoint up to six public servants of whom at least one shall represent the Taoiseach and one shall represent the Minister for Finance. These appointments represent relevant Departments to ensure NESC's work is integrated with Government policy-making. Historically, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson posts are filled from my Department at Secretary General and Assistant Secretary level.
The ratio has not changed significantly over this time. Women now account for 26% (28% in March 2011) of the Council's total membership, while men account for 74% (72% in 2011) of its membership.
Table: Details of appointments made by the Taoiseach to NESC since 9 March 2011 are set out in the table beneath.
| Name | Organisation | Date of Appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Martin Fraser, Chairperson of NESC | Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach | August 2011 |
| Mr. John Shaw, Deputy Chairperson of NESC | Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach | January 2012 |
| Prof. Edgar Morgenroth | Associate Research Professor, Economic and Social Research Institute | June 2011 |
| Prof. John McHale | Economist, National University of Ireland, Galway | June 2011 |
| Prof. Mary Daly | Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, Senior Research Fellow of Green Templeton College, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford | June 2011 |
| Prof. Anna Davis | Department of Geography, Trinity College Dublin | June 2011 |
| Prof. Seán Ó Riain | Department of Sociology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth | June 2011 |
| Dr. Michael O'Sullivan | Head of Portfolio Strategy and Thematic Research, Credit Suisse, London | June 2011 |
| Ms. Mary Walsh | Chartered Accountant | June 2011 |
| Dr. Michelle Norris | Senior Lecturer, School of Applied Social Science, University College Dublin. | July 2011 |
| Mr. Shay Cody | IMPACT | September 2011 |
| Mr. John Murphy | Secretary General, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation | November 2011 |
| Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú | Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills | February 2012 |
| Mr. John Moran | Secretary General, Department of Finance | March 2012 |
The National Statistics Board (NSB)
Under the Statistics Act, 1993, the National Statistics Board comprises a Chairperson and seven Board members - five persons of proven ability and experience in relevant fields, an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of the Taoiseach, an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of Finance, and the Director General of the CSO, ex officio.
Of the 8 current members on the NSB, one (the Chair) is female. The ratio has not changed significantly during the course of the present Government’s term as only one vacancy has arisen. A vacancy arose to replace an Assistant Secretary from my Department, as set out in the legislation.
The term of the current board is due to end in October.
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