Departmental Bodies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 February 2013

Thursday, 28 February 2013

Questions (161)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

161. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a list of the members or former members of the Judiciary who, during the past five years, have acted as chairperson or member of any body in or under his Department, or as chairperson or member of any inquiry, or have performed functions including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, patronage, advisory or law reform functions or any other role in or in any body under his Department or in any body wholly or partly funded by him, specifying in each case the name of the judge; if he or she is serving or retired; the court of which he or she is or was a member; the role or function performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10874/13]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established on 2nd June 2011 and the information requested is being provided from that date onwards.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the Honourable Mr. Justice Bryan McMahon chaired a full day seminar on genealogy, on behalf of my Department, in September 2011 and the Honourable Mr. Justice John Quirke chaired the Peatlands Forum, on behalf of the Government, in February/March 2012. Both were serving Judges of the High Court when they undertook those tasks.

With regard to bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group, the position is as follows:-

- the Honourable Mr. Justice Peter Charleton, a serving Judge of the High Court, is Chairman of the National Archives Advisory Council; and

- Judge Paul Kelly, a serving Judge of the District Court, is a member of the Board of the National Museum of Ireland.

In addition, the Honourable Mr. Justice Bryan McMahon, now retired as a Judge of the High Court, currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Abbey Theatre.