State boards are slow to appoint women members because of "institutionalised sexism", according to the lobby group Women in Technology and Science (WITS).
The percentage of women sitting on State boards has fallen over the past five years and remains well below the 40 per cent target set by government in 1991.
WITS yesterday highlighted the low numbers of women appointed to boards in the scientific, technological and industrial arena.
It also launched a "talent bank project" to help identify experienced women willing to serve on State boards. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform funded the 12-month initiative under the National Development Plan's equality for women measure.
Women represent only about 25 per cent of those sitting on scientific, technological and industrial boards, according to WITS, 15 percentage points off the target. The numbers on these boards were also falling rather than rising. A sample of 20 State boards in these areas showed an average 28 per cent of women board members in 1997 compared to 25 per cent in 2003, the group claimed.
"At this rate we will never reach equality," WITS chairperson Dr Eucharia Meehan said yesterday at the launch. "If Brian Kerr were to select the Irish soccer team and only looked at half the available talent, there'd be uproar. And if this were Northern Ireland, and we were looking at boards with only 25 per cent nationalists, there'd be an outcry. But somehow, when it comes to women, this appalling situation is tolerated," she said.
Officiating at the launch in Dublin yesterday, Minister of State in the Department Mr Willie O'Dea welcomed the initiative saying the Government was committed to reaching the 40 per cent participation level for women on State boards.
He had circulated all Government Ministers last July, asking them to review the gender balance of the boards and committees under their aegis. Mr O'Dea said he would deliver the first twice-yearly report on this review shortly.
The project seeks to identify at least 200 qualified women willing to sit on scientific, technological or industrial boards, including women with public sector, academic and industrial expertise. WITS will circulate this database to nominating bodies for decision-making forums as a way to increase opportunities for women on these boards.
Women on State boards
WITS sampled 20 State boards in the scientific, technological and industrial sectors, looking at women's percentage participation on these boards in 1997 compared to 2002. Its results are presented in the table below. The Government's target percentage is 40 per cent.
1997 ... 2000
Aer Lingus 25% ... 8%
Aer Rianta 0% ... 11%
Bord Bia 40% ... 20%
Bord Gáis 0% ... 12%
Bord Iascaigh Mhara 17% ... 17%
An Bord Pleanála 33% ... 42%
CIÉ 17% ... 37%
Coillte 22% ... 11%
Food Safety Authority 44% ... 20%
Forfás 10% ... 25%
Health and Safety Authority 45% ... 27%
Higher Education Authority 37% ... 37%
IDA 25% ... 17%
Irish Blood Transfusion Service 50% ... 50%
The Medical Council 28% ... 21%
NCCA 41% ... 17%
National Roads Authority 43% ... 36%
An Post 13% ... 21%
RTÉ 44% ... 50%
Teagasc 18% ... 18%
AVERAGE 27.6% ... 24.8%