asked the Minister for energy whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties; and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
Written Answers. - State-Sponsored Bodies Chairmen.
234.
Following is the position regarding the status of chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department: Electricity Supply Board, full-time; Bord na Móna, part-time; Bord Gáis Eireann, part-time; Nuclear Energy Board, part-time; Irish National Petroleum Corporation, part-time.
The functions of the chairmen are to direct and participate in the work of the boards which are responsible for conducting the operations of the bodies concerned so as to achieve objectives in the most efficient and effective ways. This involves the chairmen (and the members of their boards) in a role of implementing Government policy, maintaining communication and liaison with me and with my Department, exercising financial control and carrying out other responsibilities as required by the legislation and/or memorandum and articles of association under which the bodies operate.
235.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties; and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
There are no semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department.
236.
asked the Minister for Defence whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties; and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
There are no semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department.
237.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism whether the chairmen of semi-state bodies, under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
The following is the position concerning the chairmen of State-sponsored bodies under the aegis of my Department: Industrial Development Authority, part-time; Nitrigin Eireann Teoranta, part-time; Bord Fáilte Éireann, part-time; Córas Trachtála, part-time; Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, part-time; Irish Steel Ltd., full-time; Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd., part-time; Ceimici Teoranta, part-time; National Film Studios of Ireland Ltd., part-time; Kilkenny Design Workshops Ltd., part-time; Irish Goods Council, part-time; Min Fhéir (1959) Teo., part-time.
The functions of the chairmen of the boards of these bodies are to conduct and participate in the activities of the boards in their role of implementing Government policy, maintaining liaison with the Minister, exercising financial control and carrying out their other responsibilities in accordance with the legislation and/or memorandum and articles of association pertaining to each body.
238.
asked the Minister for Justice whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties; and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
There are no semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department.
239.
asked the Minister for Finance whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
With the exception of the Governor of the Central Bank, all the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department are part-time. The principal functions of the chairmen are to lead and co-ordinate the work of their boards. The boards are responsible for directing the operations of the bodies so as to achieve objectives in the most efficient ways.
240.
asked the Minister for the Environment whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties; and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
The chairmen of the semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department are, with one exception, engaged part-time in their duties, and their functions consist primarily of presiding at board meetings and in generally discharging the normal functions of chairman. An exception to this is the chairman of An Bord Pleanála who is engaged on a full-time basis. In this case apart from the statutory powers and functions of the chairman outlined in the Schedule to the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1976, the day-to-day functions of the chairman are a matter for the board itself. The board is empowered under the Act to regulate its procedure and business subject to compliance with the provisions of the Planning Acts and Regulations made thereunder.
241.
asked the Minister for Labour whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are presently engaged full-time or part-time in their duties and if he will make a statement on their function as he sees them.
The present chairmen of AnCO—The Industrial Training Authority and CERT Ltd—The Council for Education, Recruitment and Training for the Hotel, Catering and Tourism Industries, serve in a part-time capacity.
The primary functions of the chairmen of both AnCO and CERT Ltd. relates to their responsibility for guiding and co-ordinating the deliberations and policy-forming activities of the respective councils of both organisations.
In addition to their general responsibilities as council members the chairmen have a special functions related to the conduct of council meetings; the maintenance of regular contact with their Director-General towards ensuring that their council is in a position to assess adequately executive performance; liaising with the Minister for Labour on council business and the undertaking of representational duties as appropriate.
242.
asked the Minister for the Public Service whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties; and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
There are no semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department.
243.
asked the Minister for Education whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties; and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
There are no semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department.
244.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties; and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
The semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department are as follows: Bord na gCapall, Bord na gCon, Comhlucht Siúicre Eireann Teo, An Chomhairle Oiliúna Talmhaíochta, An Chomhairle Olla, Coras Beostoic agus Feola, Cork District Milk Board, Dublin District Milk Board, Irish National Stud Co. Ltd., Irish Potato Marketing Ltd., An Foras Talúntais, Pigs and Bacon Commission, Racing Board. With the exception of the chairman of the Dublin and Cork District Milk Boards and of Bord na gCon the Chairmen of the bodies under the aegis of my Department are all part-time.
In general the functions of the chairmen of these bodies are to conduct and participate in the activities of their respective boards in their role of implementing Government policy, maintaining liaison with the Minister or Minister of State, exercising financial control and carrying out their other duties and responsibilities in accordance with the legislation and/or memorandum and articles of association pertaining to each body.
In addition to the foregoing functions and responsibilities the full-time chairmen are also chief executives and as such they are responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisations.
245.
asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht whether the chairmen of semi-state bodies under the aegis of her Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties; and if she will make a statement on their functions as she sees them.
Cathaoirligh pháirtaimsire atá ar na comhlachtaí sin ach, i gcás Udarás na Gaeltachta a bunaíodh i dtús na bliana seo, tá socrú sealadach faoina bhfuil an cathaoirleach i mbun a chuid feidhmeanna ar bhonn lánaimsire go ceann tamaill ó thús na míosa seo.
Is gnó do na cathaoirligh imeachtaí na mbord a stiúradh, de réir an bheartais a leagtar sios, le féachaint chuige go ndéanfaidh na comhlachtaí a ndícheall chun a ndualgais a chomhlíonadh agus a gcuspóirí a bhaint amach.
246.
asked the Minister for Health whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time in their duties and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
The chairmen of the semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department are engaged part-time on their duties. Their functions consist primarily of chairing the meetings of their respective bodies, convening meetings of those bodies and, in general, discharging the normal functions of a chairman. They have no executive authority.
247.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties; and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
The only body which might be regarded as coming within the terms of the question is the National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty. The chairperson of the body is engaged part-time.
The committee's mandate is to advise on the development, operation and monitoring of the programme of pilot schemes and studies to combat poverty and the chairperson acts in relation to the committee in the usual capacity of a person in such a position.
248.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry whether the chairmen of Semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are presently engaged full-time or part-time in their duties and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
The chairman of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara is engaged full time on his duties as chairman and chief executive. His duties as chairman are to direct and control the activities of the board in the performance of the functions assigned to it under the Sea Fisheries Act, 1952.
An officer of my Department holds the honorary position of chairman of the Inland Fisheries Trust Incorporated and of the council of the trust. His duties in relation to the trust are part-time. The chairman directs the council and the trust in accordance with the functions of the trust as described in its memorandum and articles of association.
249.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether the chairmen of semi-state bodies under the aegis of his Department are at present engaged full-time or part-time on their duties; and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
Radio Telefís Eireann is the only semi-State body under the aegis of my Department and it has a part-time chairman. The duties and functions of the authority are laid down in the Broadcasting Authority Acts, 1960-1979 and the main function of the chairman is to preside at authority meetings, at which he has a second or casting vote.
250.
asked the Minister for Transport whether the chairmen of semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department are presently engaged full-time or part-time in their duties and if he will make a statement on their functions as he sees them.
The semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department are Aer Lingus Teoranta, Aerlinte Éireann Teoranta, Aer Rianta Teoranta, British and Irish Steampacket Company Ltd., Córas Iompair Éireann and Irish Shipping Ltd.
The chairmen of these bodies are part-time. Their functions are generally to lead and co-ordinate the work of their boards in implementing Government policy, maintaining liaison with the Minister, exercising financial control and carrying out their other duties and responsibilities in accordance with the legislation and/or memorandum and articles of association to each body.