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Ministerial Appointments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (95, 96, 97)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

95. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [37494/13]

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Kevin Humphreys

Question:

96. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [37509/13]

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Kevin Humphreys

Question:

97. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [37524/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 to 97, inclusive, together.

My Department has seven bodies, boards or committees under its remit to which I make appointments. These are: the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee; the Advisory Group of the Global Irish Network; the Ireland – United States Commission for Educational Exchange (The Fulbright Commission); the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group; the NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights; the Standing Committee on Holocaust Education, Research and Remembrance; and the Monitoring Group on Ireland’s National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325.

The primary role of the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) is to provide advice on the allocation of grants to Irish community organisations in Britain under the Emigrant Support Programme. The Committee consists of thirteen members, including two officers from our Embassy in London who act as Chair and Secretary to the Committee. The external members serve in a voluntary capacity.

The members were appointed this year for a two-year term.

A key message taken from participants at the 2011 Global Irish Economic Forum was the desire for members to be involved in coordinating the work and future direction of the Network. In response to this, I established the Advisory Group for the Global Irish Network , which I chair. The Group is charged with overseeing the implementation, where appropriate, of the initiatives which emerged from the Forum and coordinating the overall work programme for the Global Irish Network.

The 19 members appointed to the Group represent the main geographic areas represented at the 2011 Forum in Dublin Castle. It is serviced by the Irish Abroad Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in close cooperation with other Departments and State Agencies which also attend the meetings. The external members act in a voluntary capacity.

The members of the Advisory Group were appointed for two years in March 2012. However, in advance of the next meeting of the Global Irish Economic Forum on 4th and 5th October, it is not possible to determine the number or nature of vacancies that may arise once this term concludes.

There are currently two vacancies on the Board of the Ireland – United States Commission for Educational Exchange (The Fulbright Commission) . Both of these vacancies are for ordinary members of the committee. A call for expressions of interest has been issued on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Commission was established on the basis of the 1991 Educational Exchange (Ireland and the USA) Act and has eight members, four of whom are Irish citizens appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I made three appointments on 14 February 2013 and one position was left unfilled. One member of the board recently resigned their position due to changing circumstances which has resulted in the second vacancy. The members of the Fulbright Commission do not receive any remuneration.

The Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group was established in 2010, following a recommendation in the 2008 Management Review of Irish Aid . Its role is to offer independent expert advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister of State for Trade and Development on the strategic direction of the aid programme.

The group has seven members, including a Chairperson and an ex-officio member from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. They are appointed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on the basis of experience. The ex-officio member is appointed following a nomination from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. There are currently three vacancies on the group (including the ex-officio position) and a process is already underway for filling these. There are no other anticipated vacancies within the next six months.

Members receive an allowance of €2,000 per year for their work plus expenses. The Chairperson has waived her allowance of €3,000 per year. The ex-officio member does not receive an allowance.

The DFAT NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights is an informal Committee compromising representatives of Irish human rights NGOs and experts who serve in a voluntary capacity, as well as officers of my Department. The purpose of the Committee is to provide a framework for a regular exchange of views between my Department and representatives of the NGO community on human rights issues. The Committee is chaired by the head of my Department's Human Rights Unit. There are no vacancies in the Committee’s membership nor is any anticipated within the next six months. The Committee members are appointed by me and the members are not remunerated.

The DFAT Standing Committee on Holocaust Education, Research and Remembrance is an informal Committee compromising representatives of the Holocaust Education Trust Ireland; the Irish Jewish Museum; the Herzog Centre; and Trinity College Dublin, all of whom serve in a voluntary capacity, and of the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Education and Skills; and Justice and Equality. The purpose of the Committee is to provide a mechanism to help coordinate Ireland’s engagement with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) which Ireland joined in 2011. The Committee is chaired by an official of my Department. There are no vacancies in the Committee’s membership nor is any anticipated within the next six months. The Committee members are appointed by me and are not remunerated.

Arising from a commitment in Ireland’s National Action Plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325, in October 2012, I appointed Ms. Liz McManus as independent chair of the Monitoring Group formed to oversee progress on the implementation of the Plan. This position is not remunerated and is not anticipated that it will become vacant in the next six months.

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