Denis Naughten
Question:170 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider including the post of chief boundary surveyor under the remit of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14928/01]
Written Answers. - Ordnance Survey of Ireland.
The chief boundary surveyor has a statutory role to define and delimit legal and administrative boundaries in the State. As this is a quasi-judicial role, and as the OSI will have a commercial focus, it was considered more appropriate – in terms of underlining the independence of the chief boundary surveyor – that the holder of this office should not be included in the structure of the new organisation. However, it is considered appropriate – as is provided in the Bill – that OSI should have the role of providing the necessary technical support for the chief boundary surveyor in the performance of his or her duties.
Denis Naughten
Question:171 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that provision is made for worker directors under the Ordnance Survey Ireland Bill, 2001; if the number of directors will be expanded to ensure a minimum of seven rather than four directors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14929/01]
The Ordnance Survey Ireland Bill, 2001, does not specify that worker directors or members or representatives of any other particular interest groups should be included on the board of OSI. The reason for this is that I wish to ensure that there will always be flexibility in the configur ation of the board and I do not wish to tie the hands of any future Minister by putting into legislation a list of nominated groups who will always have to be represented on the board of OSI. Accordingly, although there is no specific provision in the Bill for the appointment of worker directors, this does not rule out the appointment of a workers' representative to the board.
The Bill proposes that the Minister may appoint between four and nine ordinary members of the board. This range is sufficiently wide to ensure that, for any type of circumstances and environment in which the board must operate, there will be an appropriate number of members. The proposed maximum of nine ordinary members provides for representation of a wide range of interests – at present the interim board with just seven members includes representatives of map sellers, unions, employers and professional and recreational map users.
Denis Naughten
Question:172 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the status of staff in the Ordnance Survey office by ensuring that their rights are protected following the passing of the Ordnance Survey Ireland Bill, 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14930/01]
Section 15 of the Ordnance Survey Ireland Bill, 2001, guarantees that the pay and terms and conditions of employment for staff in the new body will not be less favourable than those prevailing before the establishment of the new body. This is a standard provision used in similar legislation to ensure that the rights of workers are protected.