Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 March 2014
391. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action he is taking to encourage more Irish executives to serve on State boards under the remit of his Department; his views on the recent Merc Partners survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12460/14]
View answerA notice was placed on my Department’s website on 19 July 2011, seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons, for consideration as members or chairpersons of the boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department. Vacancies on the boards of other bodies under my Department’s aegis will be notified on the website as they arise. However, expressions of interest can be made at any time and will be kept on file in my Department for consideration as vacancies occur.
A new website portal, www.stateboards.ie, will now offer a single dedicated point of contact to all Government Departments as a support to the existing Board member selection procedures. This portal will facilitate the advertising of opportunities to express an interest in State Board vacancies and the terms and conditions pertaining to same, the registration by prospective Board members of their general interest in a position on a State Board and the sending of alerts to those registered on www.stateboards.ie of Board vacancies as and when they arise. In considering applications, due regard is had to the requirements of the position, the qualifications, experience and expertise of applicants, and Government policy regarding gender balance on State Boards.
All appointments are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments to each body. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Minister or the Government, as appropriate. In a number of situations, only some appointments to the body concerned are made by the Minister, or appointments are made with the consent of another Minister.
