Trevor Sargent
Question:177 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance when legislation will be introduced to create the proposed new Department of Transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13569/02]
Written Answers. - Proposed Legislation.
Section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1939, permits the Government to transfer, by order, functions from one Minister or Department to another and to change the name and title of Ministers and Departments.
The National Roads and Road Traffic (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 2002, S.I. No. 298 of 2002, transferred functions relating to national roads, traffic and road safety from the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and the Department of the Environment and Local Government to the Minister for Public Enterprise and the Department of Public Enterprise.
Three orders transferred functions from the Minister for Public Enterprise and the Department of Public Enterprise as follows: Meteorological Services, Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 2002, S.I. No. 303 of 2002, transferred functions in relation to Met Éireann, nuclear safety, including policy on Sellafield, and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and the Department of the Environment and Local Government; Communications, Energy and Geological Survey of Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 2002, S.I. No. 300 of 2002, transferred functions in relation to communications, energy and the Geological Survey of Ireland to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources; and Community Application of Information Technology (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 2002, S.I. No. 301 of 2002, transferred functions in relation to the Community Application of Information Technology Initiative (CAIT) to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and the Depart ment of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. These orders were effective from 18 June 2002.
A further order entitled Public Enterprise (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 2002, S.I. No. 305 of 2002, changed the title of the Minister and the Department from that of the Minister for Public Enterprise and the Department of Public Enterprise to the Minister for Transport and the Department of Transport. This order is effective from 19 June 2002.
Trevor Sargent
Question:178 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if legislation will be introduced to establish an independent appointments commission for the selection of members of State boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13570/02]
The arrangements for the composition and appointments to the boards of State bodies are normally set out in the legislation establishing the bodies in question. These arrangements are designed to ensure the efficient management of the individual bodies. Generally, appointments to the boards are made by the Minister with responsibility for the body in question, subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance.
In making appointments, Ministers must take account of any specific legislative or policy requirements such as those contained in the Workers Participation (State Enterprises) Acts or the Government's policy in relation to gender balance on the boards of State bodies. Typically, Ministers seek to ensure that a selection of people are appointed who will bring a diverse range of relevant skills and experiences to the body. Where appropriate, Ministers may also place a value on having representation from the different strands of society such as the business community, consumers, trades unions or the other social partner groups.
I am happy with the current arrangements and have no plans at present to introduce legislation to establish an independent appointments commission for the selection of members of State boards. The existing arrangements follow the routines and practices of previous Governments.