Women still under represented in senior corporate positions

Gender inequality: Minster Kathleen Lynch

Gender Equality Minister, Kathleen Lynch believes that women are still seriously under-represented in economic, decision making positions. 

Speaking in Dublin Castle as host of a conference aimed at encouraging and increasing women's economic engagement she said women are still seriously under-represented, especially in senior management and on corporate boards. 

Since 2009, the EU Commission has actively supported networking among women entrepreneurs, potential women entrepreneurs and government agencies and organisations.  

The  Ambassador Programme, which was followed in 2011 by the European Network of Mentors for Women Entrepreneurs, voluntarily counsel women who are starting and running new businesses. 

The programme is based on an Irish model developed with funding from the Department of Justice and Equality and the European Social Fund, "Going for Growth". 

Going for Growth founder, Paula Fitzsimons, said the Irish programme was now in its seventh year and offered a peer-led learning environment with experienced  businesswomen who act as lead entrepreneurs on a voluntary basis. 

She added that the recession had not stopped the huge entrepreneurial spirit existing amongst Irish businesswomen.

Other speakers at the conference indicated that despite over forty years of fostering gender equality in business and running a business, women still face more difficulties than men, in particular accessing finance, training, networking and in reconciling business and family life.

In summing up, Minister Lynch said that by choosing the topic for this Conference, Ireland was fostering a debate on women’s economic engagement which she hoped, would lead to renewed action and a diverse range of actions on the part of Member States. 

    

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