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IRELAND IS AMONG Europe’s worst performers in terms of increasing the number of women on the boards of corporations, new data has shown.
Figures published by the European Commission show that while the percentage of women on company boards increased across Europe in 2012 – from 13.7 per cent to 15.8 per cent in the nine months from January to October – but Ireland was one of only three countries not to see an increase.
Only Bulgaria, where female representation on corporate boards actually fell, had a worse performance than Ireland in 2012; Poland was the only country to match Ireland’s figures, where there was no change in the number of female directors.
Only 9 per cent of company directors in Ireland are women, the seventh-lowest total of any of the EU’s 27 member states. Malta has the lowest number, at 4 per cent; when the 12 recent entrants to the EU are excluded, Ireland is the worst-performing country.
Finland has the highest proportion of female directors, at 29 per cent, ahead of Latvia on 28 per cent, Sweden on 26 per cent and France on 25 per cent. The UK’s proportion of female directors stands at 19 per cent.
The stats are being compiled by the European Commission as it prepares draft laws which would require any company to have at least 40 per cent of its directors come from the under-represented sex by 2020, or by 2018 for publicly-traded companies.
The draft law – which requires approval by the European Parliament and by the EU’s enterprise ministers before it can take effect – would require companies to introduce new selection procedures for board members to give priority to qualified female candidates.
The laws would not apply to small and medium enterprises, and would automatically expire in 2028. Brussels has said the laws put an emphasis firmly on qualification, and that nobody would be given a position solely because of their gender – but neither would a woman be turned down for a position solely because of her sex.
The matter is provisionally listed to be discussed by EU enterprise ministers during a meeting of the EU Employment and Social Affairs Council in June, which will be chaired by Richard Bruton under Ireland’s Council presidency.
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If I was it would be abroad. Cheaper to fly somewhere than pay the costs of a weekend away in the rip off Republic
@Paul O Connor: that’s not the question. Stop having a hissy fit for the sake of it
@Paul O Connor: no it isn’t
@Mogh Roith: It can be but people often compare apples and oranges. I regularly see people quoting 4 or 5 star hotel breaks in Ireland with some tip abroad that you wouldn’t put a dog in. There is good value in both types of holiday if you’re willing to look around but it totally depends on what you’re seeking.
@Paul O Connor: Settle, petal. There was no mention of Ireland in the question…
@Mogh Roith:
3 weeks ago I got return flights Cork to London 2 nights and 2 nights in a 4 star hotel for 249 quid. Cheapest 4 star hotel in Dublin was 240 per night. Plus the trip to Dublin from Cork would’ve cost the same as the flights.
@Paul O Connor: Ripublic Off Ireland
@Paul O Connor: You did in your b0ll1x get a four star hotel in London for 240 for two nights unless it was a groupon deal or something like that.
@Paul O Connor: depends where you go and where you stay
@Paul O Connor: gosh that was great value. What hotel did you stay in?
Too expensive plain and simple. We have wound up with a country where there is little or no value for money.
No! Way too expensive ! Cheaper to wait and go abroad for a long weekend later in the year
Yes, in honour of st brigid I’ll go to county kildare. Actually i live in kildare so i guess that’s a no then:(
Nope. Ireland is an absolute ripoff. You pay massively overpriced rates for totally inferior quality. I’m tired of seeing those ads where accommodation looks like it’s 1979 and the description says “cosy, rustic, hipster” etc, where in reality it’s just old and not refurbished for decades. Also people need to learn the meaning of “stunning”, have they ever been abroad? I prefer a week away abroad for the price of a weekend away here, any day. Also, you go somewhere in Ireland and you get lashing rain and no sun. No thanks!
@Kubek Synthwave: feel free to leave whenever you wish
I am. I’m going away over to the local to watch the rugby.
Driving to Holland keeping the economy going with irish exports.
Apart from the bank holidays over Christmas and the New year and Paddy’s day, I’d rather work every other bank holiday and take them off as holiday days instead whenever would suit me better.
I’m working but hopefully next weekend . Donegal maybe on the horizon
Getting out of this dump of a country
With wot yer screwing us for every penny…be lucky to get away at all this year!!
….like…to prison?
I walk the doggos in Stephens Green everyday, it’s less than a minutes walk from my front door. So, tomorrow I think we’ll take a trip to the Iveagh Gardens and then maybe on Monday we’ll head to St Patricks Park … sooooo looking forward to a change of scenery.
Going away??? The prices we are paying now people won’t be able go to the local beach!!
@Murf: holiday bookings are almost at pre-pandemic levels so lots of people can afford to travel.
I did my tax returns and submitted claims to my health insurance. Loads of fun on a Bank Holiday!
have your say