Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 5

Written Answers. - Ministerial Appointments.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

269 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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. [21703/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tabular statement below. I should point out to the Deputy that the information provided does not include the appointment of staff to the bodies, boards or organisations concerned.

Name of Body/Board/Organisation	Name of Appointee/Nominee	Selection Process
Castlerea Prison Visiting Committee	Ms Geraldine Allen	The members of the prison visiting committees are appointed usually for a three year period by the Minister. Persons wishing to serve on a visiting committee may apply in writing to the Minister at any time or may be nominated by another person.
Sarsfield House Hostel, Ballyfermot	Fr. Carlo Mazzotta.	Nominated by The Sons of Divine Providence and approved by the Minister.
Independent Monitoring Committee for the Refugee Legal Service	Pia Prytz Phiri, UNHCR Senior Liaison Officer in Dublin	Appointed to the Committee by the Minister as the UNHCR representative
Committee on Court Practice and Procedure	Mrs. Justice Susan Denham – Chairperson	Government decision following consultation with the Chief Justice (former Chairperson of the Committee)

I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 890 and 891 on 3 October 2000 in so far as the Human Rights Commission is concerned.

Following the appointment by the Government of Mr. Justice Donal Barrington as President of the Commission, a selection committee has been established by me, with Government approval under the chairmanship of Dr. T.K. Whitaker, to draw up a list of possible candidates, who will be considered by the Government for appointment as part-time members of the commission. The other members of this committee are Ms Inez McCormack, President of ICTU and member of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; Mr. Frank Murray, former Secretary General to the Government and now a member of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission; Ms Mary Murphy, nominated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul; and Mr. Martin O'Brien, Director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice in Northern Ireland.

Advertisements were placed in the national newspapers over the period 31 August to 3 September 2000 and the selection committee has begun its task of considering the 177 applications received.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

270 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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 appoint ments or nominations made by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21717/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tabular statement below. I should point out to the Deputy that the information provided does not include the appointment of staff to the bodies, boards or organisations concerned nor does it include various working groups established to review various matters.

Name ofBody/Board/Organisation	Number ofappointments	Number of full time paid positions	Number ofpositions where afee is paid	Number ofpositions whereexpenses are paid	Any independent system of appointment procedure in operation or any proposals for change. (if yes, please give details)
Commissioners for Charitable Donations & Bequests	2	None	None	None	Members are nominated by the Commissioners. They are usually people with a particular expertise.
Censorship of Publications Appeal Board	5	None	None	5While Members of the Censorship of Publications Appeal Board are entitled to claim travelling expenses and subsistence allowance for attending meetings, I would point out that Dublin based members usually do not claim such expenses. As there have been no appeals lodged, this board has not met since its appointment so no expenses have been paid to these members to date.	None
Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal	8	None	7The Tribunal, consisting of a Chairman and six members, was appointed in May 1998 for a three year term. Due to the resignation of a member in October 1998 an appointment was made to fill the vacancy. The Chairman is paid an annual fee and the members (including the Chairman) are paid a fee for each case they decide and each
Name ofBody/Board/Organisation	Number ofappointments	Number of full time paid positions	Number ofpositions where afee is paid	Number ofpositions whereexpenses are paid	Any independent system of appointment procedure in operation or any proposals for change. (if yes, please give details)
			hearing they attend. Only one member, who is not Dublin based, is paid Travelling and Subsistence expenses for attending hearings.	1	None
Committee to Review the Offences Against the State Acts, 1939-1998, and related matters	6	None	4	2Travel & Subsistence expenses are available to all members.	None
Internet Advisory Board	19	None	None	Travel & Subsistence expenses are available to all board members.	Board members were chosen to represent the relevant parties related to the work programme of the Internet board as recommended in the Report of the Working Group on the Review of the Illegal and Harmful use of the Internet
Garda Síochána Promotion Advisory Council	3	None	None	Travel and subsistence is paid to two of the three nominees – the third is a civil servant.	None
Garda Síochána Complaints Board	3	None	2	None	None
Garda Síochána Complaints Appeal Board	3	None	2	None	None
Victims Commission	1	None	None	1	None. Not intended to make any further similar appointments.
National Disability Authority	20	None	1(Chairperson)	20	None
Prisons Authority Interim Board	12	None	8	12	None
Name ofBody/Board/Organisation	Number ofappointments	Number of full time paid positions	Number ofpositions where afee is paid	Number ofpositions whereexpenses are paid	Any independent system of appointment procedure in operation or any proposals for change. (if yes, please give details)
Advisory committees appointed on an ad hoc basis by the Minister to advise on the release of a person detained having been found guilty but insane or unfit to plead.	4 Committees, each comprising of a chairperson who is a Senior Counsel, a psychiatrist and a general practitioner. The Committee is disbanded once it has given its advice to the Minister.	None	Chairperson's retainer £1,450 plus per diem fee of £349. Psychiatrist's retainer £1,160 plus per diem fee of £290. General practitioner's retainer £1,160 plus per diem fee of £231.	Travel and subsistence paid to all appointees.	Yes – the Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill which is currently being drafted will, inter alia, provide for the establishment of a new mental care review body which will review the cases of persons detained after verdicts of not guilty by reasons of insanity or findings of unfitness to plead.
Sentence Review Group	1Existing group member appointed chairperson of the group by the Minister.	None	Chairperson's annual fee is £4,000 per annum. Ordinary member's fee is £2,500 per annum.	Travel and subsistence paid to all appointees.	No – however, the question of parole generally is currently under consideration and this may lead to changes in this area.
Arbour Hill Prison Visiting Committee	13	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	No. The members of the prison visiting committees are appointed usually for a three-year period by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Persons wishing to serve on a visiting committee may apply in writing to the Minister at any time or may be nominated by another person. The Government is considering the establishment of an independent prisons inspectorate of prisons who would be required to report on all prisons and places of detention under the aegis of the Minister. This role may duplicate some of the existing functions of the
Name ofBody/Board/Organisation	Number ofappointments	Number of full time paid positions	Number ofpositions where afee is paid	Number ofpositions whereexpenses are paid	Any independent system of appointment procedure in operation or any proposals for change. (if yes, please give details)
					Visiting committees. The respective functions of the independent prison inspectorate and the visiting committees will require careful definition.
Castlerea Prison Visiting Committee	12	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Cork Prison Visiting Committee	12	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Curragh Place of Detention Visiting Committee	12	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Fort Mitchel Visiting Committee	12	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Loughan House Visiting Committee	11	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Limerick Prison Visiting Committee	13	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Mountjoy Prison Visiting Committee	12	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Portlaoise Prison Visiting Committee	14	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Shanganagh Castle Visiting Committee	12	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Shelton Abbey Visiting Committee	12	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
St. Patrick's Institution Visiting Committee	12	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Training Unit Visiting Committee	13	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Wheatfield Place of Detention Visiting Committee	13	None	None	All receive travel and subsistence	As above
Name ofBody/Board/Organisation	Number ofappointments	Number of full time paid positions	Number ofpositions where afee is paid	Number ofpositions whereexpenses are paid	Any independent system of appointment procedure in operation or any proposals for change. (if yes, please give details)
Sarsfield House Hostel	9	1(Director/Manager of the Hostel) on salary	None	4	4 persons nominated by Sons of Divine Providence and 5 persons by the Minister
Employment Equality Agency	11	None	1	11	In accordance with the Employment Equality Act, 1977, seven of the appointments to the Employment Equality Agency were made on the nomination of representative organisations as follows – the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (2); the Irish Business & Employers Confederation (2); and the National Women's Council of Ireland (3).
Equality Authority	12	None	1	12	In accordance with the Employment Equality Act, 1998, six of the appointments to the Equality Authority were made on the nomination of representative organisations as follows – the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (2); the Irish Business & Employers Confederation (2); and the National Women's Council of Ireland (2). The Act also provides that at least 5 members of the Authority must be male and at least 5 female.
Courts Service Transitional Board	4	None	4	4	None
Courts Service Board	3	None	3	3	None
Name ofBody/Board/Organisation	Number ofappointments	Number of full time paid positions	Number ofpositions where afee is paid	Number ofpositions whereexpenses are paid	Any independent system of appointment procedure in operation or any proposals for change. (if yes, please give details)
Committee on Court Practice and Procedure	2	None	None	None	None
District Court Rules Committee	1	None	None	1	None
Judicial Appointments Advisory Board	3	None	None	None	None
Independent Monitoring Committee for the Refugee Legal Service	8	None	None	8	None
National Crime Council	18(16 positions, 2 members were replaced)	None	None	16	None
Disciplinary Tribunal (Solicitors)	5Note: the persons in question are nominated by the Minister for appointment by the President of the High Court	None	None	5	None
Expert group appointed to consider changes in the criminal law which were recommended in the Garda SMI Report	7	None	None	7 positions were eligible for travel and subsistence expenses.	The Expert group was appointed early 1998 and made its final report at the end of July, 1998. The group is no longer in existence.

I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 890 and 891 on 3 October 2000 in so far as the Human Rights Commission is concerned.

Following the appointment by the Government of Mr. Justice Donal Barrington as president of the commission, a selection committee has been established by me, with Government approval under the chairmanship of Dr. T.K. Whitaker to draw up a list of possible candidates, who will be considered by the Government for appointment as part-time members of the commission. The other members of this committee are Ms Inez McCormack, President of ICTU and member of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; Mr. Frank Murray, former Secretary General to the Government and now a member of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission; Ms Mary Murphy, nominated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul; and Mr. Martin O'Brien, Director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice in Northern Ireland.

Advertisements were placed in the national newspapers over the period 31 August to 3 September 2000 and the selection committee has begun its task of considering the 177 applications received.

The positions of part-time commissioners will attract payment of remuneration and reasonable expenses. No fees are involved in connection with the work of the selection committee.