Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 6

Written Answers. - Bodies under Auspices of Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

135 Ms O'Donnell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the statutory boards, committees, companies or other bodies under the auspices of his Department; and, in each case, the Statute under which the body was established.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

136 Ms O'Donnell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the boards, committees, companies or other bodies under the auspices of his Department; and, in each case, whether the chairperson is male or female, the number of other members of the boards who are female and male and whether their chief executive or holder of an equivalent position is male or female.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.

The National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) is under the auspices of the Office of the Tánaiste. It was established by the Government in 1993 under the arrangements agreed for a Partnership Government. There are 49 members of the Forum, 21 of whom are female. Its chairperson is female; its director is male.

There are five bodies under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs; the information requested in relation to each of them is as follows (only the two agencies have posts of chief executive or equivalent).

—The Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO) was established as a limited company in 1974. It has 11 board members, four of whom are female. Both its chairperson and chief executive are male.

The Refugee Agency was established by Government decision in 1991. It has 14 board members, seven of whom are female. Its chairperson is female; its chief executive is male.

The Irish Aid Advisory Committee was established by Government decision in 1993. It has 14 board members, five of whom are female. Its chairperson is male.

The Cultural Relations Committee is a voluntary, advisory body established in 1948. The two-year term of office of the present committee expired at the end of 1993 and a new committee has yet to be appointed. Five of the 15 members of the outgoing committee are female. The chairperson is male.

The Ireland—United States Commission for Educational Exchange was established under the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act of 1991. It has eight members, one of whom is female. The chairperson is male.