Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Mar 2001

Vol. 533 No. 5

Written Answers. - Ministerial Appointments.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

124 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of appointments made to boards, both semi-State and private, under the aegis of his Department in each of the past years 1997-2001; if he will give, in regard to each year and each board to which appointments were made, the number and percentage of males and females appointed to each board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9330/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The statutory agencies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Pensions Board, the Combat Poverty Agency, Comhairle and the Social Welfare Tribunal.

Pensions Board: the current membership of Pensions Board comprises nine men, 60%, and six women, 40%. The Pensions Board was established in December 1990 under the Pensions Act, 1990. The role of the board is to monitor and supervise the provisions of the Pensions Act, 1990, relating to occupational pensions and to advise the Minister on all matters relating to its functions and on general matters relating to pensions.

The Pensions Board comprises 15 members, including the chairperson. This is the maximum number of members allowed under current legislation. Members can serve for a maximum period of five years. The term of office of all current members will expire on 20 December 2005. All members are appointed by the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs. Some are nominated by different organisations and some are representatives of the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs and the Minister for Finance.

Appointments from 1997 to date

1997	Total No. of Appointments	0
1998	Total No. of Appointments	3
	No. of Males	2	67%
	No. of Females	1	33%
1999	Total No. of Appointments	1
	No. of Males	1	100%
2000	Total No. of Appointments	15
	No. of Males	9	60%
	No. of Females	6	40%
2001	Total No. of Appointments	0

Combat Poverty Agency: there are currently 16 board members on the Combat Poverty Agency, comprising eight men, 50%, and eight women, 50%.

The Combat Poverty Agency was established in September 1986 under the Combat Poverty Agency Act, 1986. The main functions of the agency are to advise the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs on all aspects of economic and social planning in relation to poverty; to initiate and evaluate measures aimed at overcoming poverty; and to promote greater public understanding of the nature, causes and extent of poverty and the measures necessary to overcome poverty. Current legislation provides that the number of members of the board of the Combat Poverty Agency at any one time shall not be less than eight or more than 16. All members are appointed by the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs.

Appointments from 1997 to date

1997	Total No. of Appointments	7
	No. of Males	5	71%
	No. of Females	2	29%
1998	Total No. of Appointments	2
	No. of Females	2	100%
1999	Total No. of Appointments	6
	No. of Males	4	67%
	No. of Females	2	33%
2000	Total No. of Appointments	7
	No. of Males	2	29%
	No. of Females	5	71%
2001	Total no. of Appointments	3
	No. of Males	2	67%
	No. of Females	1	33%

Comhairle: the board of Comhairle currently comprises 12 men, 60%, and eight women, 40%. It was established in June 2000 under the Comhairle Act, 2000. This new organisation replaced the National Social Services Board and the information service provided by the National Rehabilitation Board with a new mainstream information and support service. Comhairle is responsible for the provision of independent information, advice and advocacy services for citizens throughout the country, including people with disabilities.

The legislation provides that the Minister, when making appointments to the board, shall have regard to the objective of having a minimum of eight men and eight women on the board.

Appointments from 1997 to date

1997	Total No. of Appointments	0
1998	Total No. of Appointments	19
	No. of Males	10	53%
	No. of Females	9	47%
1999	Total No. of Appointments	0
2000	Total No. of Appointments	20
	Total No. of Males	12	60%
	Total No. of Females	8	40%
2001	Total No. of Appointments	0

Social Welfare Tribunal: the Social Welfare Tribunal is a statutory body established under Section 276 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993, as amended. The function of the tribunal is to adjudicate on applications for unemployment payments by workers who have been involved in a trade dispute, on the grounds that they were unreasonably deprived of their employment.

The Social Welfare Tribunal comprises two representatives nominated by organisations representative of employers, IBEC, and two representatives of workers, ICTU, with an independent chairperson.

Appointments from 1997 to date

1997	Total No. of Appointments	0
1998	Total No. of Appointments	1
	No. of Males	1	100%
1999	Total No. of Appointments	1
	No. of Males	1	100%
2000	Total No. of Appointments	0
2001	Total No. of Appointments	0

At present, the position of chairperson is vacant and the membership comprises three men and one woman.