Sharon Donnery: Gender diversity for policy making, a central banking perspective

Keynote speech (delivered via video link) by Ms Sharon Donnery, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, at the OMFIF Gender Balance Index 2020 launch, London, 5 March 2020.

The views expressed in this speech are those of the speaker and not the view of the BIS.

Central bank speech  | 
06 March 2020

Good evening, firstly let me apologise for not being able to join you this evening in person. As I'm sure you will understand, with the evolving situation with regard to COVID-19, and as a senior leader in the Central Bank of Ireland I am required to stay in Dublin.

This is first and foremost a public health issue, and at the Central Bank we are adhering to public health advice and guidance of our Health Service Executive (HSE) and the National Public Health Emergency Team.

We are closely monitoring developments related to COVID-19 and continue to assess their impact on the economy and the financial system, as more information becomes available.

Now, let me say that it is a pleasure to speak to you on gender diversity in policy making and to provide a central banking perspective.

Thank you to Her Excellency Ambassador Colonna for hosting the event. It is, of course, very apt to discuss this important topic at the embassy of a country who so proudly gave the world the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity.

In Delacroix's famous painting, it is a woman, Liberty, leading the people in pursuit of those ideals.