THE Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick Donovan has placed gender imbalance in positions of influence firmly back in the limelight with his plans to introduce legislation that would see sporting bodies face funding cuts if the split were to be any more disparate than 70:30.

No-one can argue with the desirability of a better balance, not just in sport, but in business, politics and all spheres of life. That there are so many hurdles is regrettable, making the rise of Jackie Murphy to the role of Ladbrokes’ director for Ireland (the top position in Ladbrokes Ireland, with the managing director title dispensed with) all the more remarkable; particularly so given that she left school after the Inter Certificate and worked her way up from ground level.