The number of appointments made by me to State Bodies under the aegis of my Department since March 2011 is 129.
Since May 2011, a notification was placed on my Department’s website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. The list of board vacancies was updated on a regular basis. A notification was also placed in National Newspapers. Since the end of November 2014, vacancies on the boards of these State Bodies, other than those which fall to be filled on the basis of nominations from specified organisations, are being advertised on www.stateboards.ie and processed in accordance with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) guidelines.
In the case of the Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board, Bord Bia, Teagasc, National Milk Agency, Veterinary Council of Ireland and Horse Racing Ireland, some board appointments, while made by me, are not all at my sole discretion in that individuals are nominated for appointment by me as specified in the relevant statute.