Written Answers Nos. 106 - 111
106. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form the percentage of vacant positions on State boards under the aegis of his Department that were filled from the panels created through open application by the Public Appointments Service by year from to 2011 to date in 2014. [37486/14]
View answerThe State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Defence when the Government took office were the Civil Defence Board, the Board of Coiste an Asgard and the Army Pensions Board. The Civil Defence Board was identified in the Public Service Reform Plan as a body to be abolished. The then Minister for Defence appointed a 14 person interim Board as a temporary measure in 2011 and in this context none of the positions were advertised. Legislation to dissolve the Board was passed by the Oireachtas in December 2012. Its functions have now transferred back to the Department of Defence.
There were no appointments to the Board of Coiste an Asgard from 2009. In the context of settling the Estimates for the Department of Defence for 2010, the Government decided that the national sail training scheme operated by Coiste an Asgard would be discontinued as recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure.
The formal wind up of the Company including voluntary strike off with the Companies Registration Office was completed in early 2013.
The only body currently under the aegis of the Department of Defence is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act, 1927. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners of whom one must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps. The chairman and the non military ordinary member are appointed by the Minister for Defence with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Army Medical Corps ordinary member is appointed by the Minister for Defence on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
There have been two appointments to the Army Pensions Board since March 2011. A serving officer was appointed to the position of Army Medical Corps member of the Board in December 2011, and a civilian doctor was appointed as ordinary member in November 2013.
The position of Army Medical Corps ordinary member became vacant due to retirement in 2011. The then Minister for Defence appointed Commandant Adam Lagun to the Board on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff. As the Army Pensions Act, 1927 specifies that one of the ordinary members must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps, this position was not publicly advertised. Details of Commandant Lagun’s appointment to the Army Pensions Board were published in the Iris Oifigiúl on 13 January 2012.
The civilian doctor vacancy was advertised on the Department of Defence website and the Public Appointments Service website. A number of expressions of interest in the position were received and Dr. Loretta Nolan was appointed to the Board on foot of this public advertisement process. Details of Dr. Nolan’s appointment to the Army Pensions Board were published in the Iris Oifigiúl on 10 December 2013.
107. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for vetting awaiting decision or clearance as from the 1 January 2014 to date; the month in respect of which such vetting applications were first received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37416/14]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated by the Garda Central Vetting Unit and I will communicate further with the Deputy when the information is to hand.
108. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a person (details supplied) in County Clare may change their existing six day licence to a seven day licence and the way this person may change this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37417/14]
View answerThe position is that section 19 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2000 made provision for the upgrading of restricted licences, including six-day licences, under certain conditions, including a specific condition that applications to the Revenue Commissioners for such upgrading be made within one year of the entry into force of that Act. Notwithstanding the upgrading scheme in 2000, I understand that a small number of restricted licences remain in existence and I intend to provide a further opportunity to upgrade these remaining licences in the Sale of Alcohol Bill which forms part of the Government's Legislation Programme published on 17 September 2014.
109. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the case of an imprisonment of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37460/14]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that an application has been received recently from the Spanish Authorities on behalf of the individual referred to in this question.
The application is receiving the necessary attention as is afforded to all such applications made under the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act 1995 and 1997. The applicant will be notified directly of any developments in his case as they arise.
The Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts, 1995 and 1997 provide a mechanism whereby non-nationals serving sentences in Ireland may apply to serve the remainder of their sentences in their own countries and, similarly, Irish persons who are imprisoned overseas may apply to serve the remainder of their sentences in Ireland. Such transfers may be facilitated where the other country has ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. Transfer requests under the Convention are normally made by a prisoner through the governor of the prison in which he or she is detained. I decide on all such requests following the collation of a number of reports from various agencies setting out the consequences of such a transfer. The consent of the three parties in the process is required prior to any transfer, i.e. the sentencing state, the receiving state and the sentenced person.
However, the Deputy should be aware that the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons does not confer an automatic right on any prisoner to be transferred nor does it confer an obligation on any state to comply with a transfer.
110. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form the percentage of vacant positions on State boards under the aegis of her Department that were filled from the panels created through open application by the Public Appointments Service by year from to 2011 to date in 2014. [37493/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that it is not feasible to provide the kind of percentage figures he has sought in relation to the Public Appointments Service (PAS). Board vacancies are not always advertised through the PAS as many are advertised on the Department's website or the websites of the organisations concerned. In addition, as the Deputy will be aware, there are many constraining factors which impact on the filling of vacancies to State Boards. I refer primarily to appointments where legislation requires that a vacancy must be filled by candidates holding certain qualifications or must be nominated by certain prescribed bodies thereby requiring no public advertisement of the vacancy. I am advised that in order to provide the information sought by the Deputy it would be necessary to disaggregate every appointments made since 2011 and that the resources are not available to undertake this task. However, to the extent possible I have provided below a narrative account of the vacancies filled since 2011 and the manner in which they were filled.
The Deputy may wish to note that the term 'State Boards' is somewhat imprecise as it includes bodies with a wide and diverse range of functions many of which would not fall into the more commonly understood definition of Board which is a body with a governance oversight of an organisation. To be of assistance to the Deputy I have interpreted his question as embracing all bodies called Boards, irrespective of their functions, as well as other bodies with a governance remit whose title does not include the term “Board”.
Charities Regulatory Authority Board - Expressions of interest for appointment to the Board of the Charities Regulatory Authority were sought through the Public Appointments Service. Sixteen appointments were subsequently made to the Board of the Authority; thirteen of those appointed applied through the Public Appointments Service.
Children Detention Schools Board of Management - One appointment was made to the Children Detention Schools Board of Management. The position was not advertised as the appointment was made under Section 167(4)(a) of the Children Act 2001 as amended, which requires at least one officer of the Minister. The person appointed was a civil servant. The Deputy should note that responsibility for the Children Detention Schools Board of Management moved to the Department for Children and Youth Affairs on 1 January 2012.
Classification of Films Appeal Board - There are currently nine vacancies on the Classification of Films Appeal Board. Following an invitation to the public to submit expressions of interest, a total of forty-four applications were received. I expect to make appointments to these positions in the near future.
Courts Service Board - The Courts Service Board has seventeen members, it is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes eight other judges, the CEO of the Courts Service, persons nominated by the Law Society, Bar Council and ICTU, an elected staff representative and three persons nominated by the Minister for Justice. There have been 20 appointments, three of which were individuals nominated by my predecessor Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D. including a civil servant from my Department.
Garda Síochána Arbitration Board - The Garda Síochána Arbitration Board is appointed by the Government and consists of a Chairperson, a member nominated by the representatives associations and a member nominated by the Government. The Chairperson is appointed on the nomination of the Ministers for Justice & Equality and Public Expenditure & Reform in agreement with the representative associations. Four appointments were made to the board.
Garda Síochána Complaints Board - Nine appointments were made to board on 10 April 2012. These positions were not advertised. Eight of the outgoing members were re-appointed as the Board, which has been replaced by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, only had a few outstanding cases on hands at that time. The outstanding cases have now been finalised and the necessary steps to close the Board are now being put in place. The 9th appointee is a civil servant.
Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission - The Commission consists of three members, a Chairman and two members. These positions were advertised through the Public Appointments Service following which 40 applications were received. Three candidates were selected by my predecessor Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D. and approved by Government as having the appropriate experience, qualifications, training and expertise for the relevant roles.
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission - On 8 September 2011, the Government decided to merge the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority to establish a new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) to promote human rights and equality issues in a more efficient, effective and coherent way. The 14 outgoing members of the Equality Authority accepted reappointment in September 2011 for a further term which concluded at the end of July 2012.
In the case of the Human Rights Commission three Commissioners were appointed by a Government Decision on the 20 December 2011 and their term expired on 31 May 2012. In November 2012, advertisements inviting expressions of interest for the position of Chief Commissioner and of "ordinary" members appeared in the media. The fourteen Members Designate of the new Commission were selected in April 2013 in a process independent of Government and appointed initially to the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission on an interim basis so that the two organisations could begin to operate as a cohesive whole. Following this experience, it was decided that the Public Appointments Service (PAS) should be responsible henceforth for selection of Commissioners, including Chief Commissioner post. The Government appointed the fourteen individuals as Members Designate of the Human Rights Commission in advance of the enactment and commencement of the required legislation. On 31 May 2013 the then Minister for Justice and Equality Mr Alan Shatter T.D. appointed twelve of their number to the Board of the Equality Authority, under the Employment Equality Act 1998, as amended. Emily Logan was recently nominated by the PAS as Chief Commissioner of the IHREC and at a Government meeting of the 23 July 2014 Ms Logan was appointed on an interim basis as President of the Human Rights Commission pursuant to section 5 of the Human Rights Commission Act 2000. She was also appointed as Chair of the Equality Authority pursuant to section 41 and 42 of the Employment Equality Act 1998. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 passed both Houses of the Oireachtas and was signed by the President on the 27 July 2014. It is expected that Ms. Logan's formal appointment and the formal appointment of the other fourteen members designate of the new IHREC will then be made by the President following the passing of motions in both Houses of the Oireachtas.
Judicial Appointments Advisory Board - Eleven appointments were made to the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board. The Board consists of ten members, it is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes three other judges, the Attorney General, persons nominated by the Law Society and Bar Council and three persons nominated by the Minister for Justice and Equality. Five of the appointments were individuals nominated by myself or my predecessor Deputy Shatter.
Legal Aid Board - Fifteen appointments were made to this Board, nine of which were civil or public servants.
Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board - Five appointments were made to the Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board.
National Disability Authority (NDA) - Fourteen appointments were made to the National Disability Authority (NDA). Appointments to the Board were made from nominations of relevant Ministers, as prescribed in the National Disability Authority Act 1999 (the Act), an elected member of the staff of the NDA (also a requirement of the Act) and respondents to publicly advertised calls for expressions of interest (in line with Government Decision S180/20/10/1424 of April 2011). The Act also stipulates that in making appointments "the Minister shall have regard to the objective that a majority of the Authority would be persons with disabilities, their representatives, families or carers, and, in the case of each member of the Authority, that he or she would have knowledge or experience, either directly or indirectly, of matters pertaining to disability or of any other subject which in the opinion of the Minister would be of assistance to the Authority in the performance of its functions" . The Act also makes reference to the objective that not less than 5 women and 5 men be appointed to the Board; and to the desirability that its members would include persons from both rural and urban areas.
Parole Board - Eleven appointments were made to the Parole Board. Individuals are appointed by the Minister on foot of their experience and expertise which is invaluable to the work of the Board.
Private Security Appeal Board - The Government appointed four people on 3 April 2012. The proposed Chairperson appeared before the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence. The Board may consist of as many members as are necessary for the expeditious discharge of its functions. The Chairman must be a practising barrister or solicitor of at least seven years' standing.
Private Security Authority (PSA) - Eleven appointments were made out of which seven positions were publically advertised, as the remaining four positions, in accordance with the relevant legislation, are to be nominated representatives from my own Department, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, An Garda Síochána and the PSA itself. Six members, including the Chairman, were appointed following the seeking of expressions of interest on the Public Appointments Service and Department of Justice websites. These members include representation from employer and employee organisations in the private security industry.
Four members are nominated representatives from Departments/Agencies, i.e Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Employment, Department of Justice and Equality, An Garda Síochána and the Private Security Authority in accordance with Section 7 of the Private Security Services Act 2004 (as amended). Section 7(2)(a) of the Act states that membership of the Board shall include a practising barrister or solicitor of not less than five years standing. One member was a discretionary appointment made by the Minister.
Property Registration Authority - Eight appointments were made to the Property Registration Authority. Following an invitation to the public to submit expressions of interest, a total of 84 applications were received. Four of the eight appointments were public applicants. Of the remaining four appointments made, in accordance with the relevant legislation, one is a nominee of the Law Society, one is a nominee of the Bar Council, one is the elected Property Registration Authority staff representative, and one is an Officer of the Minister.
Property Services Appeal Board - The Government made six appointments after seeking expressions of interest of which my Department received 41 applications. Those appointed were public applicants. The proposed Chairperson appeared before the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence.
Property Services Regulatory Authority - Eleven appointments were made to the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA). My Department received 114 applications after seeking expressions of interest from members of the public. Nine of those appointed were public applicants, one is a civil servant and the Chairperson, who was a member of the Property Services Regulatory Authority Implementation Team, was appointed in order to provide continuity to the Authority which had operated on a non-statutory basis for a number of years. The proposed Chairperson appeared before the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence.
111. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the photography costs incurred by her Department from May 2014 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37499/14]
View answerThe photography costs incurred by my Department from the date of my appointment on the 8th May to date are €398.52.
I can inform the Deputy that photographic services are only used by my Department to mark and provide a record of significant occasions. Consideration is given at all times to the costs involved and best value for money is always a priority when sourcing such services.
