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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 3

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - State-sponsored Bodies Appointments.

Michael Bell

Question:

5 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the number of persons appointed by him to boards, committees and State companies since 1987; the breakdown as between female and male; the number of persons whose CVs are currently retained in his Department for consideration for appointment to such boards and committees; and if he will outline whether it is desirable that a person, other than an official, serve on more than two such bodies at any one time.

I propose to circulate in the Official Report the numerical details requested by the Deputy.

Since late 1986, my Department have maintained a register of candidates for appointment to State-sponsored bodies generally. It was compiled following consultation with other Government Departments, the Consultative Group of Chief Executives of State Organisations, the Social Partners, the National Youth Council, the Council for the Status of Women and the Boardroom Centre of the Irish Mangement Institute. The register, which has been made available to all Ministers, contains the names of over 500 persons. The number of bodies on which a person serves at any one time is something that has to be taken into account at the time of appointment to those bodies in the light of the commitment the individual can make and his or her special qualifications or experience.

Appointments to State Boards by the Taoiseach since 1987.

Name of Body

Number of Appointments

Male

Female

Arts Council

17

14

3

Irish Manuscripts Commission

3

2

1

National Gallery of Ireland

2

2

Irish Museum of Modern Art

14

11

3

National Heritage Council

14

10

4

National Statistics Board

1

1

Údarás na Gaeilge

3

3

Bord na Gaeilge

7

6

1

Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge

7

5

2

Has the Taoiseach any plans to change the criteria for selection to such posts?

There are no particular criteria. First, we have a general wish to secure more suitable women for appointment and, second, each appointment is considered on its merits having regard to the nature of the appointment, the type of State company involved and so on.

Would the Taoiseach agree that party political considerations should not be taken into account in making these appointments and that the State sector has not been well served by the chopping and changing of directors of State companies purely because of political considerations? Would he agree that this is something we should strive to achieve?

I agree fully and I hope the Deputy will give some credit for the fact that the Government, and their predecessor, retained a number of good people on boards who had been appointed by our predecessors, and we would like to continue that as often as possible.

As did the Taoiseach's predecessors.

I am glad to give the Taoiseach credit for that point. However, unfortunately it was not widespread enough as in, for instance, the case of RTE. Will he agree that the State sector can be more successful if there is some sort of continuity in boards and that chopping and changing of boards after changes of Government should be a thing of the past?

Yes. There are a number of aspects of it of course. First, it is not desirable to leave people on boards for too long, no matter which Government appoint them. People are inclined to become institutionalised and it is important that from time to time fresh faces appear round the boardroom table. Apart from that, there is a great deal to be said for continuity and there is nothing in the system that prevents that.

Deputy Nuala Fennell has been offering for some time.

Would the Taoiseach apply that to the Office of Taoiseach?

Is the Taoiseach aware that some of his Ministers have been excellent with regard to the appointment of women where vacancies arise? Will he take any action in the case of Ministers who tend not to select or propose women for appointments? Further, will he confirm that the report by RTE, by Eileen Ryan, which was presented to the Taoiseach and Ministers, is being used, because it is a very comprehensive record of women available?

We are getting into too much detail.

Most of these appointments, practically all of them, are made by the Minister in consultation with the Government and there is a standing incentive by the Government to find suitable women for appointment. I assure the Deputy that is the case. Sometimes we are accused of delays in making appointments to boards, and the reason for it is we are searching for suitable women. I know the Deputy will agree with me that there is no point in appointing a woman to a board unless she has the qualifications for it, the same as male appointments.

I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has introduced into public discourse the notion that people become institutionalised by unduly long service in office, and I hope he will do a little bit of self-examination in this matter with the help of his friends.

I certainly will but I could not possibly go against overwhelming public views.

(Interruptions.)

I observe Deputy Garret FitzGerald is offering.

I apologise for reintroducing a note of seriousness, but may I ask the Taoiseach if he sees any merit in informal consultation with other parties with regard to the appointment of chairmen of bodies to ensure a measure of continuity, while, of course, the appointments generally will be matters for the Government of the day?

It would be a revolutionary departure.

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