Data from Balance for Better Business highlighted the challenges women face in advancing their careers.
Balance for Better Business, an independent business-led review group set up by the Government, has released the findings of a report examining the placement of women on the boards of Ireland’s largest companies.
Coinciding with International Women’s Day this past Sunday (8 March), data from Balance for Better Businesses shows that the proportion of women represented on the boards of ISEQ20 companies remains stable at 40pc, although this is down slightly from the previous figure of 42pc.
The data analyzed the composition of board teams and leaders across all Irish listed companies during March 2025, showing that Ireland is now 6th in the EU for female board representation. This represents a significant change from its 16th position in 2018, although it held the 5th position in November 2025.
In Irish leadership teams of listed companies, female representation stands at 26pc, which is a good performance compared to their peers. Despite the positive trends, however, the report found that more needs to be done to accelerate the pace of progress.
Better Business Data Balance showed that the gap between non-executive director representation reflects a growing pipeline challenge. Non-executive female director representation remains strong at 48pc and executive director representation continues to decline, down 3 percentage points to 8pc since November.
Challenges continue to build a strong pipeline of women to taking important leadership positionsonly 70pc of publicly listed companies have three or more women on their boards and only 45pc of ISEQ20 companies have three or more women on their leadership teams.
Commenting on the report’s findings, Balance for Better Business co-chair Carol Andrews said: “It is clear from our findings that Irish businesses continue to maintain and sustain progress in gender balance at board level.
“However, the pace of change in all business environments remains uneven. Gender equality should be a priority for every organization, regardless of size or industry. I would encourage every organization to check out our guide for key steps to accelerate the pace of progress on their journey.”
Minister of State at the Department for Business, Tourism and Employment Niamh Smyth, TD, added, “The data published by Balance for Better Business today, shows the continued progress Irish businesses are making on their gender equality journey. To maintain this momentum, it is important that all organizations make gender balance a business priority.
“When gender balance is prioritized at the top, it accelerates change in all organizations for the better. By setting clear targets, appointing more female independent directors, and focusing on accountability, Ireland’s leaders can continue their journey to achieve an inclusive, strong and high-performing future for Irish business.”
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