Gerry Adams
Question:468. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the new procedures the Government has introduced for appointments to State boards. [3574/13]
View answerTuesday, 22 January 2013
Questions (468)
Written answers
A notice was placed on my Department’s website on 19 July, 2011 seeking expressions of interest, from suitably qualified and experienced persons, for consideration as members or chairpersons of the boards of state bodies under the aegis of my Department. The notice is updated regularly as specific vacancies arise.
Vacancies on the boards of other bodies under the Department’s aegis will be notified on the website as they arise. However, expressions of interest can be made at any time and will be kept on file in my Department for consideration as vacancies occur.
All appointments are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments to each body. In considering applications due regard is had to Government policy regarding gender balance on State Boards.
A number of different statutory processes are involved in appointments to State boards. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Government or by the nister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. In a number of situations, only some appointments to the body concerned are made by the nister, or appointments are made with the consent of other nisters.as appropriate.
The Boards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and An Bord Pleanala are executive in nature and members are employed on a full time salaried basis. The appointments as Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála and Director General of the EPA are made by Government following competitions held by the Public Appointments Service.
My Department has put in place procedures whereby the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht will be notified of nominations as chair of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department prior to their appointment. Chairs of State Bodies are in general available to appear before the relevant Oireachtas committees.