Written Answers. - Ministerial Appointments.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
200
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Finance
if he will list each appointment or nomination made by him to bodies, boards or organisations under the aegis of his Department since 1 July 2000; the method used by his Department in selecting people for such appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21698/00]
The following is a list of each appointment or nomination made by me to bodies, boards or organisations under the aegis of my Department since 1 July 2000. The list below does not include international organisations where I have a role in eventual appointments.
Mr. Donal Byrne reappointed as director to the Central Bank of Ireland on 15 September 2000.
Candidates are considered on the basis of general suitability to the position of director. Every effort is made to ensure a range of economic sectors are represented on the board although clearly it has been the practice not to appoint anyone with links to a financial institution to avoid conflicts of interest.
The following members were appointed to the Public Service Benchmarking Body on 19 July 2000: the Hon. Mr. Justice Quirke; Mr. Patrick Mullarkey; Ms Maureen Lynott; Mr. Jim O'Leary; Mr. Bill Attley; Mr. Phil Flynn and Mr. John Dunne.
Appointments to the body are governed by the requirement in the public service pay agreement under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness for the composition of the body to be agreed by the parties to the agreement.
The following outgoing members of the Arbitration Board for the Civil Service were reappointed on 7 July 2000: Mr. Gerard Durcan SC – Chair; Mr. Derek Hunter and Mr. Tom Wall.
These appointments are subject to the terms of the Civil Service conciliation and arbitration scheme which provide for the chairperson to be nominated by the Minister for Finance with the agreement of the staff side of the Civil Service general council, and for a member nominated by the general council staff panel and a Government nominee.
I appointed Mr. Brian Hillery to the board of ICC Bank plc on 4 October 2000.
Appointments to the board of ICC Bank plc are made by the Minister on the basis of general suitability. Due cognisance is taken of conflicts of interest. All proposed appointees to the boards of credit institutions, including ICC Bank plc, require the approval of the Central Bank of Ireland.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
201
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Finance
the number of appointments made by him to bodies, boards or organisations under the aegis of his Department since taking office; the number of these which were to full-time paid positions and positions in respect of which a fee is paid; the number in respect of which expenses are paid; if he has given considerations to any procedures for an independent system to examine or scrutinise appointments or nominations made by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21712/00]
The number of appointments to bodies, boards or organisations under the aegis of my Department made by me since I took office is as follows:
The National Treasury Management Agency has an advisory committee which advises the agency on various matters and is consulted by me on the terms, conditions and term of office of the chief executive. Advisory committee members are paid such fees and expenses as the agency, with my consent, may determine. The Secretary General of my Department is an ex-officio member of the committee and does not receive a fee. He was appointed to the committee in March of this year.
There were four appointments made to the Valuation Tribunal. Appointments are part-time and remuneration is on the basis of fees payable for sittings of the tribunal. Subsistence and travelling expenses are also paid.
The Euro Changeover Board of Ireland was established in May 1998 and I appointed a principal officer in my Department as chairperson. He receives an allowance in addition to his salary as principal officer. I invited 20 organisations to nominate representatives to the board and asked two other individuals to serve on the board. Since then six organisations have replaced their original nominees. No payments are made to board members.
I have renewed the appointment annually each April of the chairperson of the Civil Service Dis ciplinary Code Appeals Board. I have also renewed annually each January the mediator for the Civil Service grievance procedure. These are positions in respect of which a fee is paid.
I have appointed three members to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal – one was a reappointment. The appointments were made following their nomination by the Minister for Health and Children. The members of this board are paid a fee.
I made one appointment to the Board of the Revenue Commissioners. This is a full time position in respect of which a salary is paid.
I have appointed eight directors to the Central Bank of Ireland – seven ordinary directors and one service director – of which three were reappointments. Only the governor holds a full-time paid position, the other directors receive an annual fee with the exception of the service director who does not receive any remuneration for his role as a director. They do not receive any further expenses.
I have made seven appointments to the Public Service Benchmarking Body. They are not full time positions and members receive a fee. Expenses are also paid at the civil service rates where applicable.
I have made two appointments to the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. They are not full time positions and members receive a fee. Expenses are also paid at the Civil Service rates where applicable.
I have made four appointments to the Civil Service Arbitration Board and Adjudicator. They are not full-time positions and members receive a fee.
I have made 11 appointments to the board of directors of ACC Bank plc. The directors receive a fee per annum. The director representing the Department of Finance receives no payment.
The Trustees of TSB Bank and myself appointed a non-statutory board to oversee the merger of ACC Bank and TSB Bank on 1 April 1999. The non-statutory board was to become the board of the merged bank in due course. I made five appointments to this board. One of these was replaced following a resignation.
I have made nine appointments to the board of directors of ICC Bank plc. The directors receive a fee per annum. The director representing the Department of Finance receives no payment.
I have made seven appointments to An Post National Lottery Company, four were nominated by An Post and three were nominated by myself. The directors are paid a fee unless the person appointed holds a board or executive position with An Post. One of the board members receives travel and subsistence expenses.
The issue of top level international appointments is being considered in the context of proposals for Oireachtas reform generally. As regards domestic appointments, I have no plans at present to introduce procedures for an independent system to examine and scrutinise appointments or nominations to domestic bodies or organisations under the aegis of my Department.
The above list of bodies under the aegis of my Department does not include international organisations where I have a role in relation to eventual appointments.
