Ireland has been ranked 5th in the EU for women on boards of the largest listed companies, up 11 places since 2018.
The eighth annual report of the Balance for Better Business (B4BB) Review Group shows that there has been a 5% increase in female board representation at privately held companies to reach 26%.
B4BB is a Government established independent review group.
Its latest report shows there has been a 3% increase in female representation on the leadership teams of privately held companies to reach 31%.
When it comes to multinational companies, there has been a 2% increase in female representation on senior leadership teams to reach 32%.
The report found that while there has been positive progress, the pace of change continues to be uneven.
The appointment rate of women to boards on the ISEQ20 has fallen from 60% to 28%, however, the three year rolling average for appointments is still above 50%.
The appointment rate of women to boards has also decreased among privately held companies, falling from 37% to 32%.
The latest B4BB report has also found that the prevalence of all male leadership teams remains relatively high.
23% of multinational companies had all male leadership teams, followed by 21% of privately held businesses and 16% ISEQ20 companies.
"We're urging all companies, no matter where they are on the journey, to make gender balance a strategic priority," said Balance for Better Business co-chair Carol Andrews.
Balance for Better Business co-chair Bernard Byrne described balanced leadership as a smart business move.
"Companies that commit to gender balance gain a competitive edge: they attract top talent, spark innovation, and boost performance," he said.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said gender balanced leadership is a vital part of Ireland’s 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," Mr Burke added.
