The proportion of women serving on the boards of Ireland’s ISEQ 20 companies has dropped slightly from 42% to 40%, according to new research from the Government-established Balance for Better Business Review Group. Across all listed companies in Ireland, female representation now stands at 38%, the report shows.
The analysis, which examined board and leadership team composition as of March 2025, reveals that 45% of ISEQ 20 companies have three or more women in senior leadership positions. Female representation on leadership teams of Ireland’s largest listed firms has remained steady at 26%, with the overall figure for all listed companies rising slightly to 26%.
Changes to the ISEQ 20 composition have also affected executive roles. There is now only one female CEO and one female chair within the index, while three women hold CFO positions across the broader listed company cohort.
Ireland ranks sixth in the European Union for female board representation, a slight drop from fifth place in November 2025 but a marked improvement from its 16th position in 2018.
Carol Andrews, co-chair of Balance for Better Business, said the pace of change across Irish companies remains uneven. “Gender balance should be a strategic imperative for every organisation, whatever their size or industry,” she said. Andrews encouraged organisations to adopt the roadmap laid out by the group to accelerate progress in achieving gender balance at all levels.
Her co-chair, Bernard Byrne, emphasised the importance of translating gains at board level into stronger female leadership across senior management. “By taking action today, we can empower the next generation of female leaders and build a stronger future for Irish business,” he said.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke welcomed the findings and highlighted the importance of continued momentum as Ireland implements the EU Gender Balance on Corporate Boards Directive. “As we look ahead to the implementation of the EU directive, it is vital that we maintain this momentum and ensure that gender balance is a key strategic pillar for every business in Ireland,” he said.
The report underscores ongoing progress in Ireland’s corporate gender balance while pointing to areas where further focus is needed, particularly in senior leadership roles. It signals that while board-level representation has improved over the past several years, achieving a more even distribution of women across leadership positions remains a strategic challenge for Irish companies.
