NWCI welcomes gender quotas for State sponsored sporting boards

Published: Monday, December 12, 2016

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) has welcomed the news that a minimum of 30% of all sporting boards which receive State funding must be made up of women or else they will face financial sanctions.

Orla O’Connor, Director of NWCI said,
“The introduction of gender quotas to increase women’s representation on sporting boards is a very welcome move. Given the high profile of women’s sports and the massive successes of our women athletes, from rugby to boxing in recent years, this is an important step to ensuring much needed gender balance. You cannot be what you cannot see, and while young women have a whole host of role models on the field, it is equally important that they see women in decision making positions off the field.”

She continued,
“This move is encouraging to women involved in sport, particularly those with a diversity of experience from the community and voluntary sector, from the public service, and from business.  This is an ideal opportunity to improve the gender balance, but also to increase the diversity of voices having their say in how our sporting organisations are run. The economic case for women on boards is clear cut; board performance is largely dependent upon us tapping into the economic power and potential of women, and quotas have real merit as a mechanism for overcoming structural inequality. However quotas will only achieve lasting success, when used as part of a larger strategy that tackles board requirements.”