Jim O'Callaghan
Question:235. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason local councillors are ineligible for appointment to the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta. [5446/24]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2024
235. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason local councillors are ineligible for appointment to the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta. [5446/24]
View answerIn accordance with the provisions of the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta consists of five members nominated by Local Authorities with Gaeltacht areas under their jurisdiction, as well as seven other members selected by the Minister following a public competition organised by the Public Appointments Service.
Proposals to amend existing legislation - which included a proposal that members of local authorities, the Houses of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament would be ineligible to serve on the board of An tÚdarás - were approved by Government in 2022 and underwent pre-legislative scrutiny last year.
Recommendations arising from the pre-legislative scrutiny are currently being reviewed by my officials. On completion of this work, it is my intention to publish the amending legislation with a view to providing members of both Houses with the opportunity to debate its contents in the normal way.