Ireland has climbed to fifth place in the European Union for female representation on boards of the country’s largest listed companies, moving up 11 positions since 2018, according to the latest report from the Balance for Better Business (B4BB) Review Group.
The eighth annual report highlights continued improvements in gender diversity across both public and private sectors. Female board representation in privately held companies rose by 5% to reach 26%, while women’s presence on leadership teams in these companies increased by 3% to 31%. Among multinational corporations, female representation on senior leadership teams rose by 2% to 32%.
Despite progress, the report warns that the pace of change remains uneven. Appointment rates of women to boards on the ISEQ 20, Ireland’s main stock index, fell from 60% to 28%, though the three-year rolling average for appointments remains above 50%. Similarly, privately held companies saw appointments of women decline from 37% to 32%.
The report also found that all-male leadership teams remain relatively common. Nearly a quarter of multinational companies (23%) and 21% of privately held businesses maintain all-male executive teams, while 16% of ISEQ 20 companies fall into the same category.
Carol Andrews, co-chair of B4BB, called on companies to prioritise gender balance as a strategic goal. “We’re urging all companies, no matter where they are on the journey, to make gender balance a strategic priority,” she said. Bernard Byrne, co-chair of the review group, described balanced leadership as not only fair but also smart. “Companies that commit to gender balance gain a competitive edge: they attract top talent, spark innovation, and boost performance,” he said.
Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said achieving gender-balanced leadership is key to Ireland’s global competitiveness. “Climbing from 16th to 5th place in the EU for women on boards marks a major shift, driven by collective focus and measurable action,” he said.
The B4BB report underscores that while progress is being made, gaps remain in achieving full gender equality in corporate leadership. It calls on companies to continue efforts to increase female representation and eliminate all-male leadership teams, emphasising that diverse boards and executive teams can enhance innovation, decision-making, and overall company performance.
The findings reflect Ireland’s growing commitment to gender equality in the corporate sector, reinforcing the message that balanced leadership is essential for both economic growth and competitiveness. The report suggests that sustained effort and strategic policies will be needed to maintain momentum and ensure women continue to advance into leadership roles across all sectors.
