Gender quota rules for sporting bodies

Sporting bodies could lose thousands of euro if they fail to comply with new gender quota guidelines being introduced to encourage more women to get involved and take leadership roles in sport.

Sports Minister Patrick O’Donovan said he wanted to “break the glass ceiling” which has seen low numbers of women holding positions on the boards of sporting bodies.

New measures will be brought to Cabinet in the new year which will see plans for the sport gender quotas introduced in two years. At least 30% of those on the bodies’ boards will have to be women.