40% of directors want gender quota system

Three quarters of company directors feel there is a lack of diversity in Irish boardrooms, with more than 40% suggesting a gender quota system should be introduced.

A new survey from Limerick- founded and Dublin-headquartered executive search firm, Harty International, shows that the vast majority of existing board members of Irish plcs feel that Ireland is lagging in terms of boardroom diversity — not just on gender grounds, but also when it comes to age and international expertise.

On the issue of gender equality, over 80% of directors said there is a disparity between men and women. However, while 42% feel gender quotas should be introduced for directors’ boards, over 50% said it would have a negative impact on securing the best person for the job.