Equilibrium?

Press, 14 March 1978, Page 6

librium?

The Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) said yesterday that he did not want "beady-eyed ladies who scream slogans” on statutory boards, the Press Association reports. Mr Muldoon was answering questions at a news conference about his comments at the week-end that it was difficult to find suitable women for statutory boards.

Mrs Marijke Robinson, spokesman for the Women’s Electoral Lobby, said Mr Muldoon had lists of

“extremely qualified women” compiled by W.E.L., the National Council of Women and the Committee on Women.

Questioned about this yesterday, Mr Muldoon said: “We have a list but frankly 1 don’t think membership of W.E.L. necessarily fits one for membership of a statutoiy board. What we want is intelligent, balanced people.” A journalist said the list was not just all W.E.L. members.

Mr Muldoon replied: “We have appointed a number of persons from that list. We do not, frankly, want to appoint to statutory boards those beady-eyed ladies who, you know, scream slogans.”

A journalist said the list was compiled by W.E.L. with the National Council of Women and the Committee on Women.

“I realise that,” Mr Muldoon said.

“We have taken quite a number from it, but we do want balanced people.”