The Government was sharply attacked for its failure to appoint more women to State boards.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said a decision taken by the Minister for Finance on Wednesday was "singularly inappropriate" on the eve of International Women's Day.
"He appointed seven members of the Fund Reserve Commission, only one of whom is a woman. Has the Government departed from the commitment that women should comprise at least 40 per cent of the membership of State boards, or has the Minister for Finance not heard about it?"
Dr Woods, who was taking the Order of Business in the absence of the Taoiseach and Tanaiste, said there was no change in the Government's position and it was still pursuing the same target.
Mr Noonan asked if the Minister was saying there were no qualified women to serve on this highly specialised board, and that women did not have expertise or interest in their future pensions.
Dr Woods replied, amid uproar: "I understand that at the highest levels of banking and the financial sector, the Minister would have had some difficulty in getting candidates for the job."
Mr Noonan said he could give the Minister the names of a dozen suitable people.
Dr Woods said if the steps taken by the previous government had been adequate, and if they had not found themselves at times in a similar difficult situation, the 40 per cent target would have been exceeded.
The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said a decision had been taken by the Rainbow government, and vigorously enforced by the former Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr Mervyn Taylor, that women should comprise 40 per cent of the membership of State boards.
Dr Woods said it was the Government's policy to do its utmost to achieve the 40 per cent level.
Ms Frances Fitzgerald (FG, Dublin South East) remarked: "It is as if women do not exist."
Dr Woods said he understood the percentage was of the order of 35 per cent or 36 per cent.