Ministerial Appointments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (1142, 1143, 1144)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

1142. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of all bodies, boards or committees under the remit of his Department to which ministerial appointments are made; the statutory provision providing for the making of such appointments in each case; the annual allowances or other payments made to the chairperson; the annual allowance or other payment made to an ordinary member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37490/13]

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

1143. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of the boards, bodies or committees under the remit of his Department where there is currently a vacancy to be filled by ministerial appointment; if so, if the vacancy relates to the chairperson or an ordinary member or members, specifying the number of vacancies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37505/13]

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

1144. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of the bodies, boards or committees under the remit of his Department where there is anticipated to be a vacancy within the next six months to be filled by ministerial appointment; if so, if the anticipated vacancy relates to the chairperson or an ordinary member or members, specifying the number of anticipated vacancies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37520/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1142 to 1144, inclusive, together.

The only body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act, 1927. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners of whom one must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps. The chairman and the non-military ordinary member are appointed by the Minister for Defence with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance. The chairperson and the civilian doctor are entitled to annual fees of €7,618 and €5,079 respectively. The Army Medical Corps ordinary member is appointed by the Minister for Defence on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.

The civilian doctor retired at the end of June 2013. Expressions of interest in the position of civilian doctor to the Army Pensions Board were invited by way of advertisement on the Department’s website and the Public Appointments Service website. Applications for the post are currently under consideration.

I do not anticipate any further vacancies on the Army Pensions Board in the next 6 months.