Do we need Big Sister to slay that prehistoric monster called inequality?

IN one area of Irish life, the public sector knocks hell out of its private sector equivalent — the make-up of boards of directors.

For the last 10 years or more, Irish governments have made significant efforts to place more women on State boards. The outcome is that many now include several women, some have an almost equal representation and a few are chaired by women, including Rose Hynes at Bord Gáis Éireann and Pat Moylan at the Arts Council.

The secondary, less positive outcome is that women who serve on more than one such board — notably Mary Davis and Angela Kerins — have been portrayed in media in recent times as Quango Queens, an accusation which undoubtedly damaged Ms Davis’ run at the presidency. These women were preceded by generations of men who had served on multiple state boards, who might, accordingly, have been called Quango Kings. They never were.