Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 December 2013
161. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of chairpersons of State boards, agencies and regulators that fall under his Department’s responsibility that were chairpersons when he became Minister and continue to be chairpersons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55163/13]
View answerOf the twelve State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, six have the same Chairperson as was in place at the time of my appointment as Minister. The details of these are as follows:
National Consumer Agency
Mr. Stephen Costello was appointed as Chairperson of the National Consumer Agency on 1st May 2007 in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act 2007. I reappointed Mr. Costello as Chairperson the 1 May 2012 to assist in facilitating a seamless transition to the proposed merger of the Agency and the Competition Authority.
On the enactment of the Consumer Protection and Competition Bill both the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority will cease to exist as separate entities and the Warrants of Appointment of the Chairperson and Members of the Board of the National Consumer Agency will terminate.
Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB)
Ms Dorothea Dowling was the Chairperson of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board when I became Minister and is currently in her second term.
Forfás
The current Chairman of the Board of Forfás, Mr Eoin O’Driscoll, was in situ when I was appointed as Minister to this Department. Following my decision to integrate the policy functions of Forfás into my Department, I reappointed Mr O’Driscoll to remain in this position to facilitate the integration and to oversee the orderly wind-down of the agency.
On the dissolution of Forfás upon its integration into the Department the board including its Chairperson will be stood down.
Health and Safety Authority
The current Chairperson of the Board of the Health and Safety Authority, Mr Michael Horgan, was is in situ prior to my appointment as Minister.
IDA
The Chairperson of IDA Ireland, Mr Liam O’Mahony, was appointed 3 February 2010 and is due to retire on rotation on 31 December 2013.
Shannon Development
Mr John Brassil was re-appointed as a Director of Shannon Development and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of SFADCo with effect from 12 May 2009.
In addition, Ms Ann Riordan, was appointed Chairperson of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) on Dec 5th 2013, having previously served as Chairperson of the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) at the time of my appointment as Minister.
