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Ministerial Appointments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (739, 740, 741)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

739. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 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. [37487/13]

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Kevin Humphreys

Question:

740. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 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. [37502/13]

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Kevin Humphreys

Question:

741. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 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. [37517/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 739, 740 and 741 together.

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table. As the Deputy will be aware, some members of boards are not entitled to claim fees due to the 'one salary ' rule. In addition, some board members have waived their fees on a voluntary basis.

I am working to reduce expenditure on board fees and, in this context, have taken a number of actions, including the introduction of a significant reform to end the payment of fees for all organisations under the aegis of my Department which were comprehended by the Government's Public Service Reform Plan. Arising from the Government decision of October 31st last, fees for membership of boards, committees and advisory councils at these organisations - where they previously applied - will not apply in the future and members will serve pro bono . Whilst legislative change will be required to implement this decision in a number of cases, I have written to the relevant organisations to ask them to implement this decision on an administrative basis pending statutory implementation. In addition, from January 2013 there has also been a reduction of 100% in fees for membership of the Irish Film Board.

In addition to the bodies listed below, responsibility for the Censorship of Publications Board and the Censorship of Publications Appeal Board has recently transferred to my Department. I am currently making appropriate arrangements to fill the vacancies on these boards.

For the sake of completeness, I should add that appointments to the North South Implementation Body, An Foras Teanga, comprising Foras na Gaeilge (16 members) and the Ulster-Scots Agency (8 members), are made by the North South Ministerial Council, arising from nominations on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction. Relevant board details, including fees, are published on the websites www.forasnagaeilge.ie and www.ulsterscotsagency.com.

Name of Board

No of currently serving board members (incl Chair)

No of ministerial appointments

Relevant statutory provision

No of current vacancies (incl Chair) to be filled by ministerial appointment

No of anticipated vacancies (incl Chair) to be filled by ministerial appointment within the next 6 months

Fees payable to Chair and ordinary board members

Fees waived

Arts Council

13

14

Arts Act 2003

1 ordinary member

5 (incl the Chair)

Chair - €8,978

Member - €5,985

3 members (incl Chair)

Heritage Council

11

16

Heritage Act 1995

5*

0

Chair - €8,978

Member - €5,985

The Chair and 3 ordinary members do not receive fees in accordance with the 'one salary' rule.

1 ordinary member

Irish Film Board

7

7

Irish Film Board Act 1980

0

0

Nil

N/A

National Concert Hall

15

15

Articles and Memorandum of Association

0

0

Chair - €8,978

Member – Nil

Nil

National Gallery of Ireland

15

10

The National Gallery of Ireland Acts 1854-55

*2 ordinary members

3 (incl the Chair)

Chair - €8,978

Member - €5,985

2 members do not receive fees in accordance with the 'one salary' rule.

9 ordinary members

Crawford Art Gallery

8

16

Companies Act 1963 et al

*8 ordinary members

1 ordinary member

Nil

N/A

Chester Beatty Library

11

3

N/A

1 ordinary member

1 ordinary member

Nil

N/A

National Archives Advisory Council

12

12

Archives Act 1986

0

0

Nil

N/A

Irish Manuscripts Commission

20 (plus 4 honorary members)

18.

Companies Act 1963 et al

0

0

Chair - €10,500

Member – Nil

Chair has waived fee

Údarás na Gaeltachta

12

12 (including 5 nominees of specified local authorities)

Údarás na Gaeltachta Act 1979 (as amended by the Gaeltacht Act 2012)

0

0

Chair - €20,520

Member – €11,970

The Chair and 5 ordinary members do not receive fees in accordance with the 'one salary' rule.

Nil

National Museum of Ireland

15

16 (incl 4 appointments from specified nominees)

National Cultural Institutions Act 1997

*1 ordinary member

0

Chair - €8,978

Member - €5,985

15 (incl the Chair)

National Library of Ireland

12

13

National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 and S.I. No. 218/2005

*1 ordinary member

0

Chair - €8,978

Member - €5,985

3 ordinary members do not receive fees in accordance with the 'one salary' rule.

1 ordinary member

Irish Museum of Modern Art

8

15

Articles and Memorandum of Association

*7 ordinary members

1 ordinary member

Chair - €8,978

Member – Nil

Chair has waived fee

* The Deputy should also note that, in the case of certain bodies in which board membership is to be reduced as part of the public service reform process, some of the vacancies indicated in the table above may not be filled in light of the plan.

Question No. 742 answered with Question No. 52.
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