Ireland has just taken a major leap toward gender parity at the board level

Ireland has just taken a major leap toward gender parity at the board level. From 30 May 2025, the new EU (Gender Balance on Boards of Certain Companies) Regulations came into force, enshrining a legal requirement for balance.

Here’s what companies deemed "in scope" need to know:

By 30 June 2026, at least 40% of non-executive directors must be from the underrepresented sex; typically, this means women.

Boards must also set clear, written objectives to improve gender balance among executive directors and outline the steps they’re taking.

Recruitment for non-executive posts must follow transparent, objective criteria. If two candidates are equally qualified, the underrepresented sex should be given priority.

Companies must report annually from 30 November 2026, publishing board gender breakdowns and progress publicly, while non-compliance may result in penalties and reputational consequences.

For sectors where diversity recruitment is already a hot topic, such as legal and financial services, this change raises the bar. It's a moment to renew focus on equitable hiring, board preparedness, and meaningful pipeline development.

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Read more here:

https://heyor.ca/80JAPn

#GenderBalance #BoardDiversity #CorporateGovernance #RecruitmentLeadership