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Appointments to State Boards

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2012

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Questions (325, 326)

Gerry Adams

Question:

325. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form all appointments to State boards under her ambit since the Government took office; when the person was appointed; if the position entitles the holder to remuneration and if so the amount in each case; if the appointment was made in accordance with new procedures whereby Departments has to invite expressions of interest from the public in vacancies on the boards under their aegis. [45810/12]

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Gerry Adams

Question:

326. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of chairs of State boards that have been appointed since the Government came into office; if there is a remuneration for the position and if so the amount of same; if the appointee was required to go before Oireachtas Committees to discuss what they have to offer to the particular Board or Committee to which they are being appointed. [45826/12]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together.

There are three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection. These are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman.

Social Welfare Tribunal

The Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members, two of whom are appointed on the nomination of Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and two on the nomination of Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation (IBEC). These appointments are for an initial period of a year with provision for renewal. One vacancy arose and was filled in the period in question and is now subject to renewal. That vacant position was not subject to new procedures as the positions of the four ordinary members are subject to nomination by ICTU and IBEC. Members do not receive an annual salary, instead they are paid fees for attending hearings or meetings and they may also qualify for Travel & Substance expenses if required. The details sought by the Deputy are as follows:

Member

Date of Appointment

Date of Expiry

Associated Fees

Appointments made in accordance with new procedures

Ms. Chris Rowland

24/10/2011

04/10/2012, subject to renewal

€136.71 per sitting day

€68.36 per meeting

Not publically advertised

The Citizens Information Board

I have made two appointments to the Citizens Information Board since coming into office. Mr. Eugene McErlean was appointed following a public request for expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced individuals which were advertised on the Department of Social Protection website in July 2011. The details sought by the Deputy are as follows:

Member

Date of Appointment

Date of Expiry

Associated Fees

Appointments made in accordance with new procedures

Mr. Eugene McErlean

07/09/2011

26/04/2014

€5,985 per annum

Yes

Ms. Fiona Ward

01/11/2011

31/08/2017

Nil – Ms. Ward is the Department of Social Protection representative on the Board

Not publically advertised

Pensions Board

I have made no appointments to the Pensions Board since coming into office. There are currently two vacancies on the Pensions Board. No decision has been made on advertising these vacancies, pending the completion of the Critical Review of the amalgamation of the regulatory function of the Pensions Board with the Financial Regulator, under the Public Service Reform programme.

The Chairpersons of these Boards were all in place before I came into office in March 2011 and therefore, the matter of newly appointed chairpersons appearing before the relevant Oireachtas Committee has not arisen in the case of bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection.

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