Michael Ring
Question:242 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the persons she has appointed to State boards; the name of each board since June 2002; and the names of the people appointed to the State boards. [5784/03]
Written Answers - Ministerial Appointments.
The five statutory agencies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Pensions Board, the Combat Poverty Agency, Comhairle, the Social Welfare Tribunal, and the Family Support Agency. Details of these boards are as follows.
Pensions BoardThe Pensions Board was established under the Pensions Act, 1990 and has the general function of monitoring and supervising the operation of the Pensions Act and pensions developments generally. The Pensions (Amendment) Act, 2002 provides for the addition of a representative of pensioner interests and a representative of consumer interests. Michael O'Halloran of the Senior Citizens Parliament and Carmel Foley, Director of the Office of Consumer Affairs, were appointed by my predecessor, Deputy Dermot Ahern from 1 June 2002.
The other members of the board are:
Ms Gráinne Clohessy – Chairperson
Mr. Kevin Brabazon
Mr. Brian Buggy
Mr. John Byrne
Ms Rosheen Callender
Ms Marie Daly
Mr. Tom Finlay
Mr. Paul Kelly
Mr. Ciaran Long
Ms Niamh Maguire
Ms Mary O'Donnell
Mr. Dermot Quigley
Ms Anne Vaughan
Mr. Fergus Whelan
Mr. Tom Wright
Combat Poverty AgencyThe Combat Poverty Agency (CPA) 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 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.
Since 1 June 2002 I made the following appointments to the board of the Combat Poverty Agency.
Ms Joan O'Flynn
Mr. Tony Lane
Ms Alice Robertson
Ms Maria Gorman
Mr. Frank Curran
Mr. Anthony Gavin
Ms Marie O'Neill
The other members of the Combat Poverty Agency Board are:–
Mr. Brian Duncan – Chairperson
Mr. Pearse O'Hanrahan
Ms Helen Johnston
Mr. Seamus McAleavey
Mr. Bernard Feeney
Ms Margaret Sweeney
Ms Maria Corrigan
Mr. Michael Waugh
Ms Christina Maguire
ComhairleComhairle has responsibility for promoting the provision of independent information, advice and advocacy services to all citizens. It was established in June 2000 and replaced the National Social Services Board and certain functions of the National Rehabilitation Board.
Since 1 June 2002 I made the following appointments to the board of Comhairle.
Mr. Tom Daly – Chairperson
Mr. John Bosco Conama
Ms Inez Bailey
Mr. Nigel Brander
Mr. Caroline Casey
Mr. Paul Hogan
Ms Claire Young
Ms Mairin Byrne
The other members of the Comhairle board are:
Mr. John Hogan
Ms Carol Brill
Mr. Martin Naughton
Ms Terry O'Sullivan
Mr. John Gallahue
Ms Rosarie Moylan
Ms Rosemary Farrell
Mr. John Quinlivan
Mr. Ian Coulter
Mr. Brian Flynn
Ms Fionnuala McCarthy
There is one vacancy at present.
Social Welfare TribunalThe Social Welfare Tribunal is a statutory body set up in 1982 to deal with cases where entitlement to unemployment benefit or assistance is refused due to an involvement in a trade dispute. It comprises a chairperson and four ordinary members, two of whom are representative of workers and two representative of employers. The position of chairperson of the tribunal is currently vacant.
Current board members are as follows:
Mr. Fergus Whelan
Ms Dympna Harpur
Mr. Thomas Noonan
Mr. Richard Keating
Family Support AgencyLegislation to establish the Family Support Agency was finalised with the passing of the Family Support Agency Act, 2001 and I propose to establish the new agency shortly.
The new agency will provide a family mediation service; support, promote and develop the provision of marriage and relationship counselling and other family supports and support, promote and develop the family and community.
It will also undertake research, provide and disseminate information about parenting and family issues and provide advice to the Minister on matters relating to its functions.
The Family Support Agency Act provides that there shall be 12 members including the chairperson on the board. These shall include persons with an interest and expertise in the functions of the agency, one member of staff of the agency, a representative of the Minister and not more than three officers of another Minister of the Government.
A designate board was appointed to the agency on 7 June 2002. The members are:
Mr. Michael O'Kennedy – Chairperson
Ms Clare Cashman
Ms Paddie Connellan
Ms Sinead Hanly
Mr. Dick Hickey
Mr. Brendan Murphy
Dr. Colm O'Connor
Ms Muriel Walls
Ms Brid Rocks
Ms Dilly O'Brien
There are at present two vacancies on the designate board.