O’Donoghue under fire for lack of women on board

SPORTS Minister John O’Donoghue was yesterday accused of turning a State-sponsored sports body into an “old boys’ club” which excludes women.

There has been no woman on the governing body of Bord na gCon (Irish Greyhound Board) for a number of years.

The board consists of a chairman and six members, all appointed by the minister.

Mr O’Donoghue held the Equality portfolio in government as Minister for Justice.

Bord na gCon, which owns all the greyhound stadiums in the country, gets €15 million a year from the taxpayer.

In 2003, Willie O’Dea, while junior minister with responsibility for equality, warned he would introduce legislation if state boards did not ensure there was a 40% female membership.

Labour front bench spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan TD yesterday accused Mr O’Donoghue of turning the greyhound board into an old boys’ club.

“As minister he appoints every member of the board of Bord na gCon,” she said. “For over three years there has not been a single woman on the board and this is a disgrace. It’s an amazing situation given that Mr O’Donoghue previously was responsible for equality as Minister for Justice.”

The last woman member was a civil servant, Helen Nugent.

Ms O’Sullivan said: “It’s about time the Sports Minister got his act together and ensures there are at least two women at any one time on board to adhere to his own government’s guidelines on women being represented on State boards.”