asked the Minister for Finance (a) the present directors of the Agricultural Credit Corporation, (b) the date and duration of appointment of each director, (c) the salary or other emoluments paid to each director and (d) the qualifications of each director for appointment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ACC Directors.
13.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the information requested:
Agricultural Credit Corporation.
|
Present Directors |
Date of first appointment |
Expiration of present period of office |
Annual Salary/Fee |
|
|
£ |
||||
|
Mr. B. Considine (full-time Chairman) |
1958 |
1971 |
4,680 |
|
|
Mr. J. Brady |
part-time directors |
1951* |
will retire by rotation between 1971 and 1974 in accordance with Articles of Association |
£500 each |
|
Mr. J. Beechinor |
1966 |
|||
|
Mr. W. Farrell |
1966 |
|||
|
Mr. P. Moylan |
1970 |
|||
|
Mr. J. Redmond |
1965 |
*This director was not on the Board between July, 1954 and July, 1958.
In making appointments the aim is to choose persons who will bring useful experience and ability to the board.
14.
asked the Minister for Finance if a vacancy exists on the board of directors of the Agricultural Credit Corporation; his reasons for not re-appointing a person (name supplied); if it is his intention to fill the vacancy in the near future; and, if not, why.
The articles of association of the Agricultural Credit Corporation require that the number of directors shall be not less than three nor more than seven. At present there are six directors on the board. A director who retired by rotation at the 1970 annual general meeting of the corporation was not re-elected. There is, of course, no question of retiring directors in this, or any other, State body having the right to be re-appointed. Where a director is not re-appointed, there is no statutory obligation on Ministers to give the reasons, nor do I consider it desirable that reasons should be given. I have not yet taken a decision on the question of bringing the number of directors of the Agricultural Credit Corporation up to the maximum of seven again.
Is it not true that Mr. Michael Grant who is a working farmer with a wide knowledge of farming has not so far been re-appointed by the Minister despite the fact that, to use the Minister's words, he was doing an extremely good job and that he was chosen in the past because he was a man of experience and ability? Is it not true that the only reason he is not being re-appointed is because he is a friend of Mr. Neil Blaney and, as such, is not a member of the official group of Fianna Fáil?
Hear, hear.
It is a case of keeping up with the Joneses.
As I have indicated there is no statutory obligation on me to——
Appoint Blaneyites.
——give reasons for the non-re-appointment of members to State boards. I do not expect Deputy L'Estrange to understand this but may-be some of his colleagues would. Taking a broad look at the situation one can see that it would be very bad practice if reasons were to be given in such cases.
(Interruptions.)
Order, I am calling Question No. 15.