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Who are the 30%ers?

A new movement is pushing for gender balance in the corporate world.

IRELAND’S 30% CLUB was officially launched last night by Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton.

The club is a global movement of corporate chairmen and CEOs committed to better gender balance at all levels of their organisations. The Irish branch is aiming to have at least 30% women on all Irish boards and at senior management level by 2020.

The Irish chapter was actually launched last summer but received its official champagne bottle across the bows at the Science Gallery with original founder of the UK club Helena Morrissey, CBE and 120 captains of industry in attendance.

Morrissey (49) is chief executive of Newton Investment Management and has nine children, both facts she mentions on her Twitter biography.

Gender quotas are a tough subject to approach – just ask our political parties as they struggle to cope with last year’s Dáil legislation on the subject and the 30% female representation it requires before the next general election.

30% Club Leader in Ireland MX-3 (l-r) Marie O'Connor, Helena Morrissey, Richard Bruton at the launch of the 30% Club MARK_MAXWELL MARK_MAXWELL

The 30%ers seem to be taking off though. Since the Irish chapter’s formation last May, top dogs at over 85 Irish companies have become official supporters of the club.

Irish Club Leader Marie O’Connor’s conviction on the subject of gender diversity was plain to see.

“Research shows that having at least 30% senior female representatives within an organisation significantly influences a company’s culture,” she said.

This means enhanced performance and ultimately increases shareholder value.
We’re more focused on voluntary change rather than quotas however, which may not lead to sustainable change.

The Club also launched its official scholarship worth €10,000 on the night, in partnership with the Irish Management Institute (IMI).

For all in favour of corporate and public diversity, it’s been a red-letter couple of days, with yesterday’s PriceWaterhouseCoopers CEO survey showing that chief executives across the globe are overwhelmingly aware of the positive effects of such a strategy (particularly when it comes to attracting talent).

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Read: Micheál Martin is okay with his own TDs criticising him, but how will he solve his woman problem?

Read: Enda Kenny’s secret list of women is causing ructions in Fine Gael

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36 Comments
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Oct 1st 2014, 8:41 AM

    If you are going to make a mistake MAKE A BIG ONE

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    Mute neeneee
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    Oct 1st 2014, 8:56 AM

    Dislike tesco,their products and staff

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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    Oct 1st 2014, 9:12 AM

    It was much more than a mistake though. They made a deliberate decision to book revenue from suppliers at a particular stage. Even if that didn’t break the rules, it’s the sort of aggressive policy that rarely ends well.

    And the bigger story is that more than a fifth (possibly even more) of Tesco’s profit comes from payments from *suppliers*. That is only sustainable while you dominate the consumer end. Real trouble ahead.

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    Mute Linda Hughes
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    Oct 1st 2014, 11:24 PM

    Me to the staff are rude, unhelpful, surly and they do not smile, continue doing what they are doing when a que is building up and then have an attitude when they have to serve you. I stopped shopping in Tesco a long time ago and would never go back

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    Mute Deirdre Mallin
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    Oct 1st 2014, 8:44 AM

    Aldi people know now every lidl helps!

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    Mute Darren Mullen
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:09 AM

    They should be under the microscope for the outrageous prices they charge.

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    Mute Jill Antrop
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    Oct 1st 2014, 9:16 AM

    One of their butchers must have been doing the accounts so

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    Mute Andy
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    Oct 1st 2014, 11:57 AM

    Tesco is sh*t. Their meat is crap, I won’t say the staff are rude, I just don’t think they care. Their prices are absolute nonsense, 30 quid gets you a barely half full bag of shopping – ridiculous!

    If you’re not a major fan of lidl or aldi, and sick of Tesco using your hard earned golds to fill their accounting holes then Dunnes is your man!

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    Mute Grainne Gavin
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    Oct 1st 2014, 11:08 AM

    In fairness Tesco prices are very high, and people just cant afford to shop there anymore, i only go to Tesco for washing powder, and if they have a deal on something other than that wouldn’t go near the place.

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    Mute Jim
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    Oct 1st 2014, 8:46 AM

    You can get everything you want under the tree at Spar

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    Mute Sheik Yerbouti
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    Oct 1st 2014, 8:55 AM

    The person who stands up and says, “This is stupid,” either is asked to `behave’ or, worse,
    is greeted with a cheerful “Yes, we know! Isn’t it terrific!” FZ

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