Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 July 2014
291. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he is concerned by the number of appointments to State Boards under his remit that do not go through the Public Appointments Commission; his plans to review the manner in which State Boards are appointed to ensure that the most suitably qualified persons fill vacancies that arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30799/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, in 2011 the Government introduced new arrangements for the appointment of State board members. Under the new arrangements, my Department seeks expressions of interest from the public by advertising on my Department's website. As Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in making such appointments I am not restricted to giving sole consideration to those who have responded to publicly advertised invitations to submit expressions of interest. I can also approach candidates who, in my view, may have a contribution to make and be willing to serve. In the case of certain bodies, board appointments may also be made by the bodies themselves or on an ex officio basis. It should also be noted that appointments to the boards of Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, being agencies of the North South Implementation Body, An Foras Teanga, are made by the North South Ministerial Council arising from nominations on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction.
I am satisfied that the new arrangements introduced by the Government in 2011 have significantly improved the appointments process to State boards. As Minister, I have made over 40 appointments to boards through this process to date, with a view at all times to ensuring, as far as possible, that the most suitably qualified persons are appointed to vacancies that arise.
