Vol. 542 No. 3
154 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has in the past four and a half years appointed to any State or semi-State board or agency, an executive or employee of consultancy firms or public relations firms which have previously benefited from contracts issued by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24594/01]
The following information is available to my Department in connection with the Deputy's question. The chairperson of the Combat Poverty Agency, appointed in March 2001, had previously undertaken consultancy work with my Department in connection with a review of one of the Department's schemes and an actuarial review of social welfare pensions.
The employer of a member of the Combat Poverty Agency, appointed in March 2001, undertook research for my Department in connection with reviews of the NAPS, the community development programme and secondary benefits. The firms of three members, appointed to the Pensions Board in December 2000, as representatives of their respective professional associations, are, or have been engaged by my Department.
A former employer of another member of the Pensions Board, appointed in December 2000, was engaged by my Department in the evaluation of one of its schemes. Appointments to boards are done on the basis of the knowledge and experience that people can bring to the various organisations.
