John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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2407. To ask the Minister for Health the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20728/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies; and the 2020 Annex on Gender Balance, Diversity and Inclusion, my Department endeavours to achieve the Government target of a minimum of 40% representation of each gender in the membership of state boards.

The nomination and appointment process for boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in legislation. In line with Government Decision S180/20/10/1617 of 2014 and Guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform my Department, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service currently advertises for board vacancies as they arise, where I, as Minister for Health, have nominating rights under relevant legislation. I also appoint members on the nomination of various bodies, again in accordance with the relevant legislation. In considering applications made through the Public Appointments Service for state board membership under the aegis of my Department, due regard is given to Government policy on gender balance. In relation to nominations from external bodies, the body is requested, where practical, to nominate both a male and female nominee, and in so far as possible when making appointments to State Boards, I endeavour to ensure an appropriate balance between men and women.