The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the appointments to and vacancies in the State boards funded from my Department's Vote Group is set out in the table. It may be noted that appointments to the board of Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency are made by the North South Ministerial Council, arising from nominations on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction. In the case of Údarás na Gaeltachta, five of the appointees are nominated by local authorities under the terms of the relevant legislation.
Since revised procedures were introduced by this Government, appointments to boards of State bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group are made in accordance with public appointment procedures whereby my Department seeks expressions of interest from the public by advertising on its website and proposed appointees to the position of Chairperson are required to make themselves available to appear before the relevant Oireachtas Committee. It may be noted that, as Minister, I am not bound by the list of applicants when making appointments. I can also approach candidates that may, in my view, have a contribution to make and be willing to serve.
As the Deputy may be aware, on 4 June 2013 an advertisement was published on my Department's website seeking expressions of interest in future vacancies for board members on:
- the Board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art;
- the Board of Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library;
- the Board of Crawford Art Gallery, Cork;
- the Arts Council;
- the Board of the Irish Architectural Archive; and
- the Board of Governors and Guardians of Archbishop Marsh's Library .
There was also a process carried out by the Department of Justice and Law Reform to seek expressions of interest in vacancies on the Censorship of Publications Board and the Censorship of Publications Appeals Board before the functions transferred to my Department and I am currently reviewing this.
Given that the Public Service Reform Plan reduces the membership of certain boards to 9, I do not intend to fill all current vacancies. I have been considering the applications received, however, and I expect to be in a position to make appointments very shortly in a number of the bodies referred to by the Deputies.
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State Board
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Total number of places on the board
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Number of board members appointed since March 2011
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Were these appointments subject to the public advertisement process?
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Number of appointments drawn directly from the public advertisement process
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Board positions currently vacant
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Length of time that the vacancy has been unfilled.
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Has the vacancy been publicly advertised?
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National Museum of Ireland
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16
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0
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N/A
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N/A
|
1
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Since November 2012
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No
|
|
National Concert Hall
|
15
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15 (inc Chair)
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Yes
|
12
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
National Gallery of Ireland
|
17
|
1
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N/A – the appointment was underway prior to the introduction of the public applications process.
|
N/A
|
2
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One since November 2012;
one since April 2013
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No
|
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art
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15
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
7
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One since June 2010;
two since December 2011;
one since February 2012;
two since April 2012;
and one since May 2013
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Yes – in May 2011 and again in June 2013
|
|
National Library of Ireland
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12
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
1
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Since May 2012
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No
|
|
National Archives Advisory Committee
|
12
|
2
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Yes – the process was adhered to but no applications were received following advertisement.
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Irish Manuscripts Commission
|
20
|
19 (inc Chair)
|
No – the commissioners were reappointed pro tem during the public service reform process
|
N/A
|
1
|
Since July 2013
|
N/A
|
|
Chester Beatty Library
|
3
|
2
|
Yes
|
2
|
1
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Since June 2013
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Yes-May 2013
|
|
Crawford Art Gallery
|
16
|
7 (inc Chair)
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No – the board members were reappointed pro tem during the public service reform process
|
N/A
|
8
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Since December 2011
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Yes – one in May 2013
|
|
Irish Film Board
|
7
|
7 (inc Chair)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Arts Council
|
13
|
5
|
Yes
|
2
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Censorship of Publications Board
|
5
|
0
|
Yes
|
None to date
|
5
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Since November 2011
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Yes – by the Department of Justice and Law Reform
|
|
Censorship of Publications Appeals Board
|
5
|
0
|
Yes
|
None to date
|
5
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Since February 2012
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Yes – by the Department of Justice and Law Reform
|
|
Heritage Council
|
15-17 – in accordance with the Heritage Act, 1995, which states that the Council shall comprise of a Chairperson and not fewer than 14 or more than 16 ordinary members.
|
7 (inc Chair)
|
Yes
|
4
|
4
|
Since July 2013
|
No
|
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta
|
12
|
12 (inc Chair)
|
Yes
|
4
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Foras na Gaeilge
|
16
|
16
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N/A – Appointments are made by the NSMC
|
N/A
|
1
|
Since September 2013
|
N/A
|
|
Ulster -Scots Agency
|
8
|
8
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N/A – Appointments are made by the NSMC
|
N/A
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
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