State bodies want more women on agricultural boards

State bodies under the Department of Agriculture have expressed a wish to see more women on agricultural boards.

Currently, 27 per cent of farm workers nationwide are women.

However, only 13 per cent of farm owners are women.

The revelation comes as the first National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture is due to take place in County Laois later, and also coincides with St Brigid's Day, named after the famous Irish saint who has become a feminist icon in recent years.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, has also said that he will refuse nominations to State boards for which he is responsible if women are not sufficiently represented on them.

He explained: "In the case of the 12 State Bodies for which I have responsibility, there is an under representation of women on these Boards, and I am reiterating the request of my predecessors in asking the Chief Executives of agri-business companies to support women within their companies expressing an interest in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies, and to encourage those who may not as yet have considered putting themselves forward."

Current government policy has a target of at least 40 per cent for representation of each gender on State boards.