The European Union (Gender Balance on Boards of Certain Companies) Regulations 2025 have now been implemented into Irish law, introducing new legal obligations for listed companies regarding gender representation at board level.
These regulations mean that, by June 2026, affected employers will be required to review, and possibly alter, the composition of their board, recruitment practices, and procedures.
Who is affected?
The regulations apply to companies registered in Ireland whose shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market in at least one EU member state. They do not apply to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or unlisted companies.
Gender representation targets
By June 2026, listed companies must meet one of the following targets:
- At least 40% of non-executive director positions are to be held by members of the under-represented sex
- At least 33% of all director positions, whether executive or non-executive, are to be held by the under-represented sex.
Affected companies must clearly document how they plan to meet these targets, including outlining recruitment processes and selection criteria for board members.
It should be noted that, only where candidates are equally qualified, should priority be given to the underrepresented sex.
Reporting obligations
From 2026 onwards, eligible companies will have to submit annual reports each year with a breakdown of gender representation at board level, distinguishing between executive and non-executive roles, as well as a summary of the actions taken to meet the gender balance targets.
