Gender quota proposal is not radical enough

On Tuesday’s Irish Examiner, Ann Cahill, wrote that the European Commission is to instigate measures to ensure that the boardrooms of major listed companies are no longer filled with men.

It is, apparently, going to bring in legislation that will force companies to give women at least 40% of seats around the boardroom table. It is legislation that is probably well intended. However, it does not really address the real issue, at least for a country the size of Ireland.

Effective boardrooms need the best people irrespective of gender, creed, colour, political affiliation or old school, or club tie. This legislation addresses only one part of the problem.