Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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102. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce gender quotas for the boards of publicly listed companies here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21923/16]

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the discussions she had with the EU Commission on the implementation of an EU directive on gender quotas for public listed companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21924/16]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together.

The draft Directive in question, which does not provide for quotas but rather procedures to be followed in filling board positions when one gender is under-represented, has not been adopted. It is still before a Council working group.

Ireland supports the proposed Directive and considers that the approach put forward is balanced and proportionate. As a result, neither the Tánaiste nor I have had discussions with the European Commission specifically on it.

It would be preferable to await the outcome of discussions on the draft Directive before attempting to frame national legislation on the matter.