As reported in a recent newspaper article, the Taoiseach said that there may be some stark messages for us from the OECD review. He said, however, that we should be prepared to take hard decisions which the reforms will require. What stark message does the Taoiseach expect to arise from the OECD review? For example, does he expect criticism of public service pay and conditions, or will the report be used as an excuse to impose stricter limits on numbers employed in the public service? Is the Taoiseach aware that an embargo on recruiting new staff means we do not have enough ambulance crews? I came across such an example recently in my own constituency.
Ceisteanna — Questions (Resumed).
It would be more appropriate for the Deputy to address detailed questions to the line Minister.
No.
These are general questions.
I wish to highlight the fact that there is a difficulty concerning ambulance crews.
It would be better if the Deputy raised that matter with the Minister for Health and Children.
This may be one of the matters that will emerge from the review. It was highlighted by Mr. Pat Hanafin of the Ambulance Association of Ireland. We also heard from the HSE that a cap on recruitment——
I ask the Deputy not to continue along that line. If he has a question, it should be addressed to the Minister.
I have a number of questions.
They should be put to the Minister for Health and Children.
Will this review of the OECD report bring about cost-cutting measures or will it examine the real value and benefit of the public service in providing vital public services? The Taoiseach referred to joined-up thinking on the public service, but will this review cover joined-up Government? We regularly criticise the education and health sectors where one section clearly does not seem to know what the other is doing.
The review is not a substantive audit of sectors, such as health, education and local government. It is, rather, focusing on the connectivity between various sectors, as I told Deputy Rabbitte, including central and wider sectoral areas. It is examining the effectiveness of arrangements through which Government objectives are translated into outputs and outcomes by means of collaboration by different parts of the system. My Government's polices and strategies in various sectors, such as health, education and local government, will continue in parallel with the review. Every day work continues involving our 350,000 public servants but naturally there are lessons to be learned from the review. Where sensible improvements and refinements to our ongoing work on reforming these sectors are recommended, they will be fed into the overall mix. It is not a pay review and the OECD would have no part in such a review. As I have already said, the review is an holistic, system-wide assessment.
There is also a peer review element in the exercise whereby senior officials and practitioners from countries actively involved — both as part of the fact-finding and drafting teams, and as members of committees — will review the draft report. It is valuable because it will help towards sharing best practice from other countries. It will also provide an element of rigour in the process of framing recommendations in practical terms. Against this background, it was considered that the OCED is best placed to undertake a review of this nature. Similar reviews by the OECD in the economic and regulatory areas were well established and rightly regarded as instruments here. The OECD's public governance and territorial development committee has also established similar peer review processes in other areas, including human resource management, information and communication technology, and ethics in the public service. Any private sector consultancy would struggle to match the OECD in such terms because of its vast experience of peer review benefits, in-house expertise, knowledge and networking to communities of interest among EU member states and further afield.
What is the relationship or interconnection between the OECD review and the NESF report which was published last Sunday? Is one feeding into the other or are parallel reviews taking place? I would like to check the relationship of one with the other. Has the OECD been given any remit to examine decentralisation and how it affects the issue of public service quality? Does the OECD have a mandate to address the embargo on staff recruitment, given Mr. Paul Appleby's problems concerning corporate governance and the lack of staff available to him for that vital work? Does the OECD have a mandate to make recommendations in that regard? What will be done about the recommendations? Will we receive a report on how they are being implemented or will anything be done about them?
Account will be taken of the NESF report and any other previous work, which will feed into the OECD's work. In the first instance, the OECD is consulting with the high-level steering group which is at Secretary General level. That group, comprising Secretaries General across Departments, including the Revenue Commissioners, has been set up to oversee the review. The driving force behind decisions made in this respect will be the Secretaries General. The liaison group is at assistant secretary level and was established to support the OECD team that will be undertaking field work here. There will also be an open process whereby members of the public and interested parties can convey their views, including through web-based means, which is what the OECD does with all its reviews. I understand that the high-level steering group is considering a targeted consultation with identified stakeholders, including the social partners, Members of the Oireachtas, senior officials and parties with an interest in public service issues. Those views will be conveyed to the OECD, so the NESF report will obviously fit into that.
The review is being chaired by the Secretary General to the Government. Membership of the steering group comprises representatives from the Department of Finance's public service management and development section, the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Education and Science and Health and Children. The steering group also comprises key public servants, including the Garda Commissioner, the chairman of the County and City Managers Association, the chairman of the Association of Chief Executives of State Agencies and the head of the education department in NUI Maynooth. As I have said, the high-level steering group is being assisted in its work by a group at assistant secretary level. That group is chaired by an assistant secretary of my own Department. It includes most of the major Departments as well as the Revenue Commissioners.
There is a consultative dimension to the review process which will draw on expertise from the business, academic and community sectors, as well as the social partners and other stakeholders. It is a small group comprising an important team. It began its work just after the Christmas break and plans to complete its endeavours by next Christmas, following which the report will be presented.
What about decentralisation?
If the group has views on practices in any of these areas it can provide them in the report. There will be no restrictions and there is nothing to stop the group giving its views on embargos or other matters. The Deputy asked about Mr. Appleby who is in the process of getting additional staff. He has 36 staff at present and is getting additional numbers. The reason he is not getting them all is that we made a priority in that Department to put the staff into new inspection sectors dealing with compliance by workers. The number of inspectors has risen from 30 to 90. It rose to 60 last year and 90 this year.
We have set up a whole new division and it is a matter of priorities — it is not that Mr. Appleby's work is not considered important. He already has 36 staff, he is getting four this year and it is hoped he will receive another four. It is a question of prioritising the placement of staff.
He wants 20, including gardaí.
He has 36 so it seems extraordinary that he could want another 20; one would not receive such an increase in any Department. He will have to wait his turn because we have given priority to the labour inspectors and other commitments under Towards 2016. We have waited a long time for these so a new organisation can wait a few more years if the staff are required.
Appointments to State Boards.
Enda Kenny
Question:6 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the appointments made by him since June 2002 to the State boards, or other agencies within his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43895/06]
Enda Kenny
Question:7 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the names, occupations and dates of appointment since June 2002 of those appointed to the boards of the State agencies and bodies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43901/06]
Trevor Sargent
Question:8 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on appointments made to State boards since he took office in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2356/07]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:9 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will set out the criteria used by him for the appointment of persons to State boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3730/07]
Pat Rabbitte
Question:10 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the appointments made to State boards or agencies since June 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3860/07]
Joe Higgins
Question:11 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on appointments made to State boards or other agencies under the aegis of his Department by him since June 2006. [4434/07]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 11, inclusive, together.
The information sought by the Deputies concerning the names of the persons appointed by me to State boards and agencies under the aegis of my Department, together with their occupations and dates of any such appointments, since June 1997 is set out in a schedule which I propose to circulate with the Official Report. The relevant bodies are the National Statistics Board, the Law Reform Commission, the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, and the National Economic and Social Forum, NESF.
The schedule also lists appointments made in respect of bodies that no longer come under the aegis of my Department, namely the Information Society Commission, Digital Media Development Limited and Campus and Stadium Ireland Development, CSID.
The members of State boards under the aegis of my Department are appointed through well established nominating procedures, having regard to the remit of the bodies and, consequently, to the specific competencies and skills expected of their members. In many instances, members are nominated through relevant nominating panels. The NESC and NESF, for example, comprise representatives of the various pillars involved in social partnership, that is, employer bodies, trade unions, farming organisations and community and voluntary organisations.
|
1 |
The National Statistics Board |
|
2 |
The Law Reform Commission |
|
3 |
The National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP) |
|
4 |
The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
|
5 |
The National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) |
|
6 |
Second Information Society Commission * |
|
7 |
Digital Media Development Limited ** |
|
8 |
Campus and Stadium Ireland Development (CSID) *** |
*The term of Office for the Second Information Society Commission ended on 31 December, 2004.
**Media Lab Europe was established by the Government and MIT with effect from May 2000. Although established as a private company, the Board was appointed by MIT and the Government. MIT appointed three Board members, the Government appointed three, and three were appointed jointly. The Government appointments were Danny O'Hare (ex-DCU), Ann Riordan (ex-Microsoft) and Denis O'Brien (Esat). The joint appointees were Gerhard Schulmeyer (Siemens), Red Burns (New York University) and Bono (U2). Responsibility for both Digital Media Development Ltd. and Media Lab Europe transferred to the Department of Public Enterprise in May 2001.
***In January 2001, the responsibility for Campus and Stadium Ireland Development (CSID) transferred to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and was subsequently dissolved following the establishment of the National Sports Campus Development Authority.
|
Name |
Occupation / Organisation |
Date of Appointment |
|
Professor Frances Ruane |
Trinity College, Dublin |
July 1999 August 2001 |
|
Mr. David Doyle |
Department of Finance |
January 1998 |
|
Mr. Dermot McCarthy |
Department of the Taoiseach |
July 1999 |
|
Mr. Cathal O’Loghlin |
Department of Finance |
January 1999 July 1999 August 2001 |
|
Mr. Frank Cunneen |
Health & Safety Authority (IBEC) |
July 1999 August 2001 February 2004 February 2006 |
|
Mr. Ciaran Dolan |
ICMSA |
July 1999 August 2001 February 2004 February 2006 |
|
Ms Paula Carey |
ICTU |
July 1999 August 2001 February 2004 |
|
Mr. Steve Couldwell |
Smith and Nephew |
January 1998 |
|
Ms Marian Harkin |
Teacher |
July 1999 August 2001 |
|
Ms Mary Doyle |
Department of the Taoiseach |
January 2001 August 2001 February 2004 February 2006 |
|
Ms. Helen Nic Fhlannchadha |
Teacher |
March 2002 |
|
Professor Brendan Walsh |
University College Dublin |
February 2004 February 2006 |
|
Dr. Pat O’Hara |
Western Development Commission |
February 2004 February 2006 |
|
Mr. Derek Moran |
Department of Finance |
July 2003 February 2004 February 2006 |
|
Mr. Paul Sweeney |
ICTU |
October 2006 |
|
Name |
Occupation / Organisation |
Date ofAppointment |
|
President |
The Hon. Mr Justice Vivian Lavan, Judge of the High Court |
27 July 1998 — retired February 2000 |
|
President |
The Hon. Mr. Justice Declan Budd, High Court. |
22nd February, 2000 — retired 21 February 2005 |
|
President |
Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, Judge of the Supreme Court |
22 February 2005 |
|
Commissioner (Full-time) |
Patricia T. Rickard-Clarke, Solicitor |
1 October 2001. Reappointed 30 September 2004 |
|
Commissioner (Part-time) |
Dr. Hilary A Delaney, B.L. Senior Lecture in Law, TCD |
15 April 1997. Reappointed 15 April, 2002 |
|
Commissioner (Part-time) |
Professor Finbarr McAuley, B.C.L., LLB, MPhil, LLD, Jean Monnet Professor of European Criminal Justice, UCD |
1 September 1999. Reappointed 1 September 2004 |
|
Commissioner (Part-Time) |
Marian Shanley, Solicitor |
Appointed 13 November 2001 Reappointed 12 November 2004 |
|
Senior Counsel (Part-Time) |
Donal O’Donnell, Senior Counsel |
28 June 2005 (replaced Dr. Hilary A. Delaney, BL) |
|
Name |
Occupation / Organisation |
Date ofAppointment |
|
|
Executive Chairperson |
Mr. Peter Cassells |
October 2001 — April 2004 reappointed: 7 November 2005 |
|
|
Government Departments |
Mr. Philip Kelly, Asst. Secretary Deputy Chairperson |
Dept. of the Taoiseach |
October 2001 reappointed: 24 January 2006 |
|
Mr. Ciaran Connolly, Asst. Secretary |
Dept. of Finance |
October 2001 reappointed: 24 January 2006 |
|
|
Mr. Maurice Cashell |
Dept. of Enterprise, Trade & Employment |
October 2001 |
|
|
Mr. John Walsh, Asst. Secretary |
Dept. of Enterprise, Trade & Employment |
June 2002 — (replaced Mr. Maurice Cashell) Reappointed: 24 January 2006 |
|
|
Ms Sylda Langford, Asst. Secretary |
Dept. of Justice, Equality &Law Reform |
October 2001 |
|
|
Employers |
Mr. Brendan McGinty |
Director, Human/Industrial Resources, IBEC |
October 2001 Reappointed: 24 January 2006 |
|
Mr. Liam Doherty |
Director, Human Resource Services, IBEC |
October 2001 Reappointed: 24 January 2006 |
|
|
Mr. Eddie Keenan |
CIF |
24 January 2006 |
|
|
Ms Irene Canavan |
Arnotts |
24 January 2006 |
|
|
Ms Marie Moynihan |
Human Resource Manager, Dell Direct |
October 2001 |
|
|
Mr. Terry McEvoy |
Director, Industrial Relations, CIF |
October 2001 |
|
|
Mr. Morgan Nolan |
Industrial Relations, CIF |
Jan 2004 — (replaced Terry McEvoy) |
|
|
Trade Unions |
Mr. Tom Wall |
Assistant General Secretary, ICTU |
October 2001 |
|
Mr. Fergus Whelan |
Industrial Officer, ICTU |
October 2003 — replaced Mr. Tom Wall Reappointed: 24 January 2006 |
|
|
Mr. Jerry Shanahan |
AMICUS |
24 January 2006 |
|
|
Ms. Catherine Byrne |
INTO |
24 January 2006 |
|
|
Mr. Jack O’Connor |
General President, SIPTU |
October 2001 |
|
|
Ms Marie Levis |
Asst. General Secretary, IMPACT |
October 2001 |
|
|
Mr. John Tierney |
National Secretary, MSF |
October 2001 |
|
|
Mr. Des Geraghty |
Member of Executive Council, ICTU |
September 2004 — (replaced Mr John Tierney, MSF) |
|
|
Mr. Gerry McCormack |
SIPTU |
24 January 2006 |
|
|
Ms Angela Kirk |
IMPACT |
September 2004 — (replaced Ms Marie Levis) |
|
|
Mr. Sean Heading, Education & Training Services Trust has been nominated by ICTU as an alternate |
|||
|
Independent Members |
Prof. Joyce O’Connor |
National College of Ireland |
24 January 2006 |
|
Prof. Bill Roche |
Dean of Research, Smurfit Business School, UCD |
October 2001 |
|
|
Dr. Sheelah Ryan |
CEO, Western Health Board |
October 2001 |
|
|
Mr. Seamus O’Brien |
Partnership Facilitator, Galtee Meats |
October 2001 |
|
|
Prof. Kathy Monks |
Dean, DCU Business School |
October 2001 |
|
|
Ms Dorothy Butler Scally |
Human Resources Consultant |
24 January 2006 |
|
|
Dr. Catherine Kavanagh |
UCC |
24 January 2006 |
|
Name |
Occupation / Organisation |
Dates of Membership |
|
|
Chairperson |
Mr. Dermot McCarthy |
Secretary General, Dept. of the Taoiseach |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
Deputy Chair |
Ms Mary Doyle |
Assistant Secretary, Dept. of the Taoiseach |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
Trade Union Pillar |
|||
|
Mr. David Begg |
General Secretary, ICTU |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Peter Cassells |
General Secretary, ICTU |
November 1998 |
|
|
Ms Patricia O’Donovan |
Assistant General Secretary, ICTU |
November 1998 |
|
|
Mr. Peter McLoone |
General Secretary, IMPACT |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Jimmy Somers |
President, SIPTU |
November 1998 |
|
|
Mr. Manus O’Riordan (replaced Jimmy Somers |
Economist, SIPTU |
March 2000 September 2003 |
|
|
Ms Joan Carmichael (replaced Patricia O’Donovan) |
Assistant General Secretary, ICTU |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Ms Sally Anne Kinahan (replaced Joan Carmichael) |
Assistant General Secretary, ICTU |
January 2004 |
|
|
Mr. Charlie Lennon |
General Secretary, ASTI |
November 1998 |
|
|
Mr. Des Geraghty |
President, SIPTU |
June 2001 |
|
|
Mr. Jack O’Connor (replaced Des Geraghty) |
Vice President, SIPTU |
September 2003 |
|
|
Business and Employer or Organisation Pillar |
|||
|
Mr. Turlough O‘Sullivan |
Director General, IBEC |
November 1998 |
|
|
Ms. Aileen O’Donoghuee (replaced Turlough O‘Sullivan) |
Director, Financial Services Ireland |
September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Simon Nugent |
Chief Executive, Chambers of Commerce Ireland |
November 1998 |
|
|
Mr. Tom Toner |
Director, IBEC |
November 1998 |
|
|
Mr. Brian Geoghegan (replaced Tom Toner) |
Director, IBEC |
March 2001 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Danny McCoy (replaced Brian Geoghegan) |
Director of Policy, IBEC |
October 2005 |
|
|
Mr. John Dunne |
Chief Executive, Chambers of Commerce Ireland |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Liam Kelleher |
Director General, Construction Industry Federation |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Brendan Butler |
Director, IBEC |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Agricultural and Farming Organisation Pillar |
|||
|
Mr. Gregg Tierney |
Secretary, ICOS |
November 1998 |
|
|
Mr. Seamus O’Donoghue (replaced Gregg Tierney) |
Secretary, ICOS |
April 2000 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Ciaran Dolan |
General Secretary, ICMSA |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Michael Berkery |
General Secretary, IFA |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Tom Curren |
Chief Executive, Macra na Feirme |
November 1998 |
|
|
Ms Maria Moynihan (replaced Tom Curren and resigned in July 2000) |
Chief Executive, Macra na Feirme |
October 1999 |
|
|
Mr. Con Lucey |
Chief Economist, IFA |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Damien McDonald |
Chief Executive, Macra na Feirme |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Community and Voluntary Pillar |
|||
|
Fr. Sean Healy |
Head of Justice Office, CORI |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Dr. Katherine Zappone |
Chief Executive, National Women’s Council |
November 1998 |
|
|
Ms Siobhan O’Donoghue |
Community Workers Co-operative |
November 1998 |
|
|
Ms Orla O’Connor (replaced Katherine Zappone) |
National Women’s Council |
April 2000 |
|
|
Mr. Dan Boyle |
Vice-President, National Youth Council |
November 1998 |
|
|
Mr. Donall Geoghegan (replaced Dan Boyle) |
Programme Manager, National Youth Council |
September 2002 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Tony Monks |
General Secretary, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed |
November 1998 |
|
|
Ms Noleen Hartigan (replaced Tony Monks) |
General Secretary, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed |
November 2001 |
|
|
Mr. Mike Allen |
General Secretary, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed |
November 1998 |
|
|
Mr. John Dolan |
Chief Executive, Disability Federation of Ireland |
September 2003 |
|
|
Ms Deirdre Garvey |
Chief Executive, the Wheel |
September 2003 |
|
|
John Mark McCafferty |
Policy Officer, Saint Vincent de Paul |
September 2003 |
|
|
Government Department Nominees |
|||
|
Mr. John Hurley |
Secretary General, Dept. of Finance |
November 1998 |
|
|
Mr. Tom Considine (replaced John Hurley) |
Secretary General, Dept. of Finance |
September 2002 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Paul Haran |
Secretary General, Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Sean Gorman (replaced Paul Haran) |
Secretary General, Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
October 2004 |
|
|
Mr. Edmond Sullivan |
Secretary General, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs |
November 1998 |
|
|
Mr. John Hynes (replaced Edmond Sullivan) |
Dept. of Social and Family Affairs |
May 2002 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Brendan Tuohy |
Secretary General, Dept. of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Niall Callan |
Secretary General, Dept. of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government |
September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. John Fitzgerald |
Dublin City Manager |
November 1998 |
|
|
Independent Nominee |
|||
|
Prof. Jim Walsh |
Dept. of Geography, NUI Maynooth |
November 1998 |
|
|
Prof. John Fitzgerald |
Senior Research Officer, ESRI |
November 1998 September 2003 |
|
|
Ms Geraldine McAteer |
West Belfast Partnership, Northern Ireland Interests |
November 1998 |
|
|
Ms Irene Bergin |
ISME |
August 1998 |
|
|
Ms Angela Kennedy (replaced Irene Bergin) |
Megazame International |
February 2001 |
|
|
Mr. David Finn (replaced Angela Kennedy) |
City Jet |
November 2001 |
|
|
Prof. Eithne McLaughlin |
Dept. of Social Policy, Queens University, Belfast |
September 2003 |
|
|
Mr. Colin Hunt |
Head of Research, Goodbody Stockbrokers |
September 2003 |
|
|
Dr. Peter Bacon |
Economic Consultant |
September 2003 |
|
|
Prof. Brigid Laffan |
Department of Politics, UCD |
September 2003 |
|
|
Dr. Sean Barrett (replaced Colin Hunt) |
Department of Economics, Trinity College |
January 2005 |
|
Name |
Occupation / Organisation |
Dates of Membership |
|
|
Full Membership 2004 |
|||
|
Independent Chairperson |
Maureen Gaffney |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Deputy Chairperson |
Mary Doyle |
Asst. Sec., Dept. of the Taoiseach |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
Independent Appointments |
Dr Mary P. Corcoran |
Senior Lecturer, NUI, Maynooth |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
Cait Keane |
South Dublin County Council |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Dr Colm Harmon |
Director, Institute for the Study of Social Change, UCD |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Mr. Brian Nolan |
Research Professor, ESRI |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Mr. Paul Tansey |
Economist |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Strand (i): Oireachtas |
Michael Woods |
Fianna Fáil TD |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
John Curran |
Fianna Fáil TD |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Senator Mary O’Rourke |
Fianna Fáil |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Senator Paschal Mooney |
Fianna Fáil |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Senator Brendan Daly |
Fianna Fáil |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Senator Geraldine Feeney |
Fianna Fáil |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Pat Carey |
Fianna Fáil TD |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Senator Paul Coghlan |
Fine Gael |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Damien English |
Fine Gael TD |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Paul Kehoe |
Fine Gael TD |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Joan Burton |
Labour TD |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Willie Penrose |
Labour TD |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Senator Kate Walsh |
Progressive Democrats |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Senator Feargal Quinn |
Independents |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Jerry Cowley |
Technical Group TD |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Strand (ii): Employer/Trade Unions |
|||
|
Employer/Business Organisations |
Jackie Harrison |
IBEC |
January/February 2004 |
|
Maria Cronin |
IBEC |
October/November 2004 (replaced Jackie Harrison) |
|
|
Tony Donohue |
IBEC |
September 2006 (replaced Maria Cronin) |
|
|
Heidi Lougheed |
IBEC |
January/February 2004 |
|
|
Patricia Callan |
Small Firms Association |
January/February 2004 |
|
|
Kevin Gilna |
Construction Industry Federation |
January/February 2004 |
|
|
Dr. Peter Stafford |
Construction Industry Federation |
replaced Kevin Gilna Oct 05 |
|
|
Robert O’ Shea |
Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Industry/Exporters Association |
January/February 2004 |
|
|
Sean Murphy |
Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Industry/Exporters Association |
replaced Robert O’SheaAug 05 |
|
|
Trade Unions |
Eamon Devoy |
Technical Engineering & Electrical Union |
January/February 2004 |
|
Blair Horan |
Civil & Public Service Union |
January/February 2004 |
|
|
Jerry Shanahan |
AMICUS |
January/February 2004 |
|
|
Manus O’Riordan |
SIPTU |
January/February 2004 |
|
|
Paula Carey |
ICTU |
January/February 2004 |
|
|
Esther Lynch |
ICTU |
Sept 2006 (Replaced Paula Carey) |
|
|
Agricultural/Farming Organisations |
Mary McGreal |
Irish Farmers Association |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
Michael Doody |
Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Mary Johnson |
Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Carmel Brennan |
Macra na Feirme |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Anne Murray |
Irish Country Women’s Association |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Carmel Dawson |
Irish Country Women’s Association |
June 2006 (Replaced Anne Murray) |
|
|
Strand (iii): Community & Voluntary Sector |
|||
|
Women’s Organisations |
Orla O’Connor |
National Women’s Council of Ireland |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
Joanna McMinn |
National Women’s Council of Ireland |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Unemployed |
June Tinsley |
INOU |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
John Farrell |
INOU |
replaced June Tinsley Oct 05 |
|
|
Patricia Short |
ICTU Centres for the Unemployed |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Disadvantaged |
Sr. Brigid Reynolds |
CORI |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
John-Mark McCafferty |
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Audrey Deane |
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul |
Nov 2004 (replaced John-Mark McCafferty) |
|
|
Sharon Keane |
Anti-Poverty Networks |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Joe Gallagher |
Anti-Poverty Networks |
Replaced Sharon Keane Sept 05 |
|
|
Youth/Children |
Malcolm Byrne |
NYCI |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
Marie Claire McAleer |
NYCI |
Replaced Malcolm Byrne Sept 04 |
|
|
Raymond Dooley |
Children’s Rights Alliance |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Jillian Ban Turnhout |
Children’s Rights Alliance |
Replaced Raymond Dooley Aug 05 |
|
|
Older People |
Robin Webster |
National Council for Ageing and Older People/Senior Citizen’s Parliament/Age Action |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
Others |
Frank Goodwin |
The Carers Association |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
Seamus Boland |
Irish Rural Link |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Fergus O’Ferrall |
The Wheel |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Brid O’ Brien |
Pavee Point |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Aisling Walsh |
Disability Federation of Ireland |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Joanne McCarthy |
Disability Federation of Ireland |
Replaced Aisling Walsh in 2006 |
|
|
Strand (iv) Central Government, Local Government and Independents |
|||
|
Central Government |
Tom Considine |
Secretary General, Dept. Finance |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
Paul Haran |
Secretary General, Dept. Enterprise, Trade & Employment |
Jan/Feb 2004 Retired 22/10/04 |
|
|
Sean Gorman |
Secretary General, Dept. Enterprise, Trade & Employment |
Replaced Paul Haran Oct 05 |
|
|
John Hynes |
Secretary General, Dept. Social & Family Affairs |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Gerry Kearney |
Secretary General, Dept. Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Niall Callan |
Secretary General, Dept. Environment, Heritage & Local Government |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Local Government |
Councillor John Egan |
General Council of County Councils |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
Councillor Ger Barron |
General Council of County Councils |
Nov 2004 (replaced Cllr. John Egan) |
|
|
Councillor Patsy Treanor |
General Council of County Councils |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Councillor Jack Crowe |
General Council of County Councils |
Nov 2004 (replaced Cllr Patsy Treanor) |
|
|
Councillor Constance Hanniffy |
General Council of County Councils |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Councillor Patricia McCarthy |
Association of Municipal Authorities |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Donal O’Donoghue |
County and City Managers Association |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
John Tierney |
County and City Managers Association |
Nov 2004 (replaced Donal O’Donoghue) |
|
|
Independents |
Dr Colm Harmon |
Institute for the Study of Social Change, UCD |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
Dr Mary P. Corcoran |
Department of Sociology |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Dr Brian Nolan |
ESRI |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Paul Tansey |
Tansey, Webster, Stewart & Company Ltd. |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Cait Keane |
South Dublin County Council |
Jan/Feb 2004 |
|
|
Full Membership 1998 |
|||
|
Independent Chairperson |
Ms Maureen Gaffney |
October 1998 |
|
|
Deputy Chairperson |
Mr Dermot McCarthy |
Dept. of the Taoiseach |
October 1998 |
|
Independent Appointments |
Prof. Gearoid O Tuathaigh |
NUI, Galway |
October 1998 |
|
Ms Marian Vickers |
Northside Partnership |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Helen Johnston |
Surg. Equipment Ltd. |
October 1998 |
|
|
Mr Niall Fitzduff |
Rural Communities Network |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Noreen Kearney |
Trinity College, Dublin |
October 1998 |
|
|
Strand (i) Oireachtas |
Deputy Gerry Reynolds |
Fine Gael |
October 1998 |
|
Deputy Paul McGrath |
Fine Gael |
October 1998 |
|
|
Deputy Billy Timmins |
Fine Gael |
October 1998 |
|
|
Deputy Mary Jackman |
Fine Gael |
October 1998 |
|
|
Senator Therese Ridge |
Fine Gael |
October 1998 |
|
|
Deputy Derek McDowell |
Labour |
October 1998 |
|
|
Senator Joe Costello |
Labour |
October 1998 |
|
|
Deputy Michael Lowry |
Independent |
October 1998 |
|
|
Deputy Noel Ahern |
Fianna Fail |
October 1998 |
|
|
Deputy Sean Haughey |
Fianna Fail |
October 1998 |
|
|
Deputy Beverly Cooper-Flynn |
Fianna Fail |
October 1998 |
|
|
Deputy Michael Kitt |
Fianna Fail |
October 1998 |
|
|
Senator Helen Keogh |
Progressive Democrats |
October 1998 |
|
|
Senator Jim Gibbons |
Replaced Helen Keogh |
||
|
Senator Margaret Cox |
Fianna Fail |
October 1998 |
|
|
Senator Pascal Mooney |
FiannaFail |
October 1998 |
|
|
Strand (ii) Employer/Trade Unions |
|||
|
Employers/Business |
Jackie Harrison |
IBEC |
October 1998 |
|
Ms Aileen O’Donoghue |
IBEC |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Helen Lougheed |
IBEC |
replaced Aileen O’Donoghue May 02 |
|
|
Ms Lilian O’Carroll |
SFA |
October 1998 |
|
|
Pat Delaney |
SFA |
replaced Lilian O’Carroll 2002 |
|
|
Ms Mirette Corboy |
CIF |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Carmel Mulroy |
Chambers of Commerce |
October 1998 |
|
|
Farming |
Ms Eileen Doyle |
Macra na Feirme |
October 1998 |
|
Mr John Dillon |
IFA |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Betty Murphy |
IFA |
replaced John Dillon July 2000 |
|
|
Ms Mary Coleman |
ICOS |
October 1998 |
|
|
Seamus O’ Donoghue |
ICOS |
replaced Mary Coleman Nov 00 |
|
|
Mr Pat O’Rourke |
ICMSA |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Eva Coyle |
ICWA |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Breda Raggett |
ICWA |
replaced Eva Coyle Sept 01 |
|
|
Trade Unions |
Mr Eamon Devoy |
TWEU |
October 1998 |
|
Mr Blair Horan |
CPSU |
October 1998 |
|
|
Mr John Tierney |
ICTU |
October 1998 |
|
|
Mr. Jerry Shanahan |
ICTU |
replaced John Tierney September 1999 |
|
|
Mr Manus O’Riordan |
SIPTU |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Joan Carmichael |
ICTU |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Paula Carey |
ICTU |
replaced Joan Carmichael January 2002 |
|
|
Strand (iii) Community & Voluntary |
|||
|
Women’s Organisations |
Ms Susan McNaughton |
NWC |
October 1998 |
|
Ms Grainne Healy |
NWC |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Ursula Barry |
NWC |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Joanne McMinn |
NWC |
replaced Ursula Barry October 2001 |
|
|
Unemployed |
Ms Joan Condon |
Limerick Centre for the Unemployed |
October 1998 |
|
Ms Mary Murphy |
Dundalk Centre for the Unemployed |
October 1998 |
|
|
Mr Tony Monks |
INOU |
October 1998 |
|
|
Mr Eric Conroy |
INOU |
replaced Tony Monks February 2002 |
|
|
Disadvantaged |
Mr Chris McInerney |
Community Workers Co-Op |
October 1998 |
|
Frances Byrne |
Community Workers Co-Op |
replaced Chris McInerney Feb 01 |
|
|
Ms Janice Ransom |
N/A |
October 1998 |
|
|
Mr Joe Gallagher |
Community Training Programme |
October 1998 |
|
|
Youth |
Mr Gearóid Ó Maolmhichíl |
NYCI |
October 1998 |
|
Ms Ciairin de Buis |
NYCI |
replaced Gearóid Ó Maolmhichil January 2001 |
|
|
Ms Marian Brattman |
NYCI |
replaced Ciairin de Buis December 2001 |
|
|
Ms Valerie Duffy |
NYCI |
replaced Marian Brattman February 2002 |
|
|
The Elderly |
Mr Paddy Donegan |
Retired Workers Committee |
October 1998 |
|
Disability Interests |
Mr Roger Acton |
DFI |
October 1998 |
|
Mr John Dolan |
DFI |
replaced Roger Acton April 2000 |
|
|
Environment |
Ms Jeanne Meldon |
National Planning Committee |
October 1998 |
|
Others |
Fr Sean Healy |
CORI |
October 1998 |
|
Mr Liam O’Dwyer |
St. Vincent de Paul |
October 1998 |
|
|
Strand (iv) Central Government, Local Government & Independents |
|||
|
Local Government |
Councillor Constance Hanniffy |
General Council of County Councils |
October 1998 |
|
Councillor Tom Kelleher |
General Council of County Councils |
October 1998 |
|
|
Councillor Enda Nolan |
General Council of County Councils |
October 1998 |
|
|
Councillor Patsy Treanor |
General Council of County Councils |
replaced Councillor Enda Nolan September 2001 |
|
|
Councillor Tadgh Curtis |
Association of Municipal Authorities |
October 1998 |
|
|
Mr D. O’Donoghue |
County and City Managers Association |
October 1998 |
|
|
Government Departments |
Department of Finance |
Dept. of Finance |
October 1998 |
|
Mr Paul Haran |
Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment |
October 1998 Retired 22 October 2004 |
|
|
Mr Eddie Sullivan |
Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs |
October 1998 |
|
|
Ms Margaret Hayes |
Department of Tourism, Sport & Recreation |
October 1998 |
|
|
Mr Jimmy Farrelly |
Department of the Environment & Local Government |
October 1998 |
|
Name |
Occupation / Organisation |
|
Dr. Danny O’Hare (Chairman) |
Former President of DCU (Dublin City University) |
|
Claire Cunningham |
Director, Aura Internet Services Ltd |
|
Dr Chris Coughlan |
Hewlett Packard |
|
Michael Byrne |
CEO, Ennis Information Age Services |
|
Jerry Shanahan |
ICTU/Amicus |
|
Karen Hynes |
Manager of E-Business Services, Chambers of Commerce of Ireland |
|
Colm Reilly |
Irish Internet Association |
|
Inez Bailey |
Director, National Adult Literacy Agency |
|
Rev. Dr. Eamonn Conway |
Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Mary Immaculate College, UL (University of Limerick) |
|
Robert Johnston |
JLS Software Solutions |
|
Clodagh O’Donnell |
Client Executive, Financial Services Sector, IBM |
|
Dee Cari |
Torque Management |
|
Marion O’Neill |
Manager, Kilkenny Information Age Town |
|
Dr Patricia O’Hara |
Manager, Policy Division, Western Development Commission |
|
Christopher Took |
Web Developer (resigned September 2002) |
|
Charles Stanley-Smith |
Chief Technical Officer, Piercom |
|
Brian Lennon |
Guidance Counsellor, St Oliver’s College, Drogheda |
|
Donal Toolan |
Forum of People with Disabilities |
|
Kathryn Raleigh |
Director of the Irish Software Association, IBEC |
|
Joe Horan |
County Manager, South Dublin County Council |
|
Peter Ryan |
Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach |
|
Digital Media Development Limited (appointments made by Government to the above Board in April 2000) |
|
|
Paddy Teahon |
Executive Chairman |
|
Dan Flinter |
Enterprise Ireland |
|
Don Thornhill |
HEA |
|
John Fitzgerald |
Dublin City Manager |
|
Paul Kavanagh |
Businessman |
|
Paul McGuinness |
Principle Management Ltd |
|
Peter Cassells |
ICTU |
|
Jackie Harrison |
IBEC |
Footnote:
Media Lab Europe was established by the Government and MIT with effect from May 2000. Although established as a private company, the Board was appointed by MIT and the Government. MIT appointed three Board members, the Government appointed three, and three were appointed jointly. The Government appointments were Danny O'Hare (ex-DCU), Ann Riordan (ex-Microsoft) and Denis O'Brien (Esat). The joint appointees were Gerhard Schulmeyer (Siemens), Red Burns (New York University) and Bono (U2).
Responsibility for both Digital Media Development Ltd. and Media Lab Europe transferred to the Department of Public Enterprise in May 2001.
|
Members |
|
|
Paddy Teahon |
Executive Chairman (former Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach) |
|
William Attley |
Former General Secretary, SIPTU |
|
Mary Davis |
(former Chief Executive of Special Olympics World Games, now CEO of Special Olympics Ireland) |
|
Sean Donnelly |
Civil Engineer |
|
Lucy Gaffney |
Company Director |
|
Tom Kiernan |
Chartered Accountant |
|
John Mulcahy |
Director, Jones Lang LaSalle |
|
Liam O Maolmhichil |
Director General, GAA |
|
John Power |
Solicitor |
|
John Treacy |
CEO, Irish Sports Council |
|
Michael Walsh |
Company Director |
Footnote
In January 2001, the responsibility for Campus and Stadium Ireland Development (CSID) transferred to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and was subsequently dissolved following the establishment of the National Sports Campus Development Authority.
I look forward to reading the schedule of appointments. I wonder if the Taoiseach has moved away from the position he outlined some months ago whereby he indicated a number of these appointments were made because the individuals involved were friends of his.
They are all my friends.
They may want to be the Taoiseach's friends because of the position he holds. Section 227 of the code of conduct for officeholders states that, subject to the provisions in legislation or other formal requirements for the establishment of Government bodies for the filling of positions, appointments by members of the Government should be made on the basis of merit, taking into account the skills, qualifications and experience of the person to be appointed and so on.
Has the Taoiseach reviewed this position or is this guideline followed strictly by the members of the Government? Are there any other appointments that must be confirmed by the Taoiseach or on his behalf? If a Minister has a vacancy at an agency such as Údarás na Gaeltachta, must he approach the Taoiseach with a suggested appointee having applied the aforementioned guideline?
The question refers to State bodies under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach, not other State bodies.
The Taoiseach is the boss and while, as he said himself, he cannot be responsible for every action of the 350,000 public servants, does he have to give the nod to every appointment relating to people on State boards?
No, thank God. Some such appointments must be checked with the Taoiseach under statute but I am afraid I read about most of them. Most of the people appointed by the various boards and bodies under my Department arrive via nominating bodies and I have a minor influence in such cases.
The Taoiseach might be as well off that that is the case.
I do not control the NESC, the NESF, the Oireachtas, the farmers, trade unions and employers. I always try to encourage the appointment of more women but if I made suggestions other than that on who to appoint I would not get my wish. It is usually a hard job to find relevant people to take up positions on some of the other boards under my aegis, such as the National Statistics Board. I have no great honours.
In the past various Governments have shown a tendency to pack boards in advance of a general election. Is there a likelihood that this trend will change in advance of the forthcoming election and will the Taoiseach lead by example in this regard?
Are criteria established in agencies under the Taoiseach's responsibility preventing individuals from being appointed to boards? If it emerged, for example, that an individual's tax issues were not in order would he or she be prevented from being appointed to a board or are there set rules in this regard?
Appointments to boards are made on the basis of the knowledge, expertise and experience individuals can bring to a board. In many cases appointments are made on the basis of nominations by relevant groups, such as social partners, and the individuals involved agree to serve out of a sense of public duty rather than monetary considerations. In most boards there are no monetary considerations. It is not recommended that people with problems or difficulties like those outlined by the Deputy serve on boards, although it depends on the nature of the difficulty. Most people in society are affected by minor issues but if it was a major tax issue the person would be ruled out.
Most boards are composed of members put forward by nominating bodies and such bodies tend to be careful about nominating people with difficulties, although it happens from time to time. Most of the time this is not an issue.
What about packing the boards?
I do not agree with it and do not think it is a good idea.
After all that I am not clear on whether the Taoiseach has changed his policy from the one he expressed during his difficulty last year. He said "I appointed them because they were friends, not because of anything they had given me". Has the Taoiseach changed his view in this regard and does he still have friends who have not yet been appointed to something?
I will frame my contribution in the interrogative, in case the Ceann Comhairle feels compelled to jump in. Is it not wrong to give the impression that the Taoiseach only makes appointments to the relatively harmless boards he has listed here? The Taoiseach is involved in and consulted on appointments to the more prestigious boards.
These questions refer specifically to boards under the aegis of the Taoiseach's Department. If the Deputy has issues relating to other boards he must find other ways of raising them.
The Ceann Comhairle is absolutely correct in this regard and I accept his point entirely.
Is there anybody in the Drumcondra retinue who has not been appointed to one agency or another? What is the answer to Deputy Sargent's question on whether it is the intention of the Taoiseach and his Ministers to make appointments on the eve of the general election? Is that practice to be continued on this occasion?
It can be seen in the schedule that I have appointed to boards more card-carrying members of the Labour Party, who were paraded in prominent positions at that party's conferences, than residents of Drumcondra. There may be four or five such people from Drumcondra but I have appointed people who write Labour Party policy documents, who parade to Deputy Rabbitte's office and constitute his advisory team.
I never knew I had Fianna Fáil sleepers all around me.
All of the Deputy's Labour Party colleagues are good people. I deal with them every day.
Keep one's friends close and one's enemies closer.
A handful of poor people from Drumcondra are beleaguered because they have known me for 40 years but that is how it is. It is not practice and I do not agree with packing boards on the eve of a general election. The practice has been that after a general election people tend to pack boards. I do not agree with that practice and have always tried to avoid engaging in it. My record in that regard is very good.
The Taoiseach will be in a slightly different position after the coming election.
Regardless of the posts I have held over the years, I have not done what politicians in the House did in the past, which was to stick people into boards.