Appointments to State Boards

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Questions (1353)

John McGuinness

Question:

1353. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20727/21]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

My Department was established in July 2020.

Its approach to the filling of board posts for bodies under its aegis is informed by guidance notes issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, guidance which includes the 2014 Guidelines on Appointments to State boards, the 2016 Code of Practice for the Governance of State bodies, and also the 2020 publication by D/PER of an Annex to the Code of Practice – the Annex on Gender Balance, Diversity and Inclusion (https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/ceb75-142020-code-of-practice-for-the-governance of-state-bodies/ ) which focuses on gender equality and diversity. This suite of guidelines codify the process for filling vacancies on State Boards, for bodies under the aegis of my Department in addition to the consideration which requires to be given to the relevant legislative underpinning of the aegis bodies, as appointments made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my discretion.

Appointments to state boards are typically made via the Public Appointments Service (PAS) who manage this process. Applications are made through the dedicated website www. Stateboards.ie with this website being the channel used by PAS to both inform the public of vacancies and to collate expressions of interest in vacancies.

Members of the public interested in service on a state board may register with PAS via www.publicjobs.ie and receive alerts when state board vacancies are advertised. In regard to vacancies, PAS stipulate the skill set required for service on individual boards in their candidate information booklets. An assessment process is undertaken by PAS leading to the creation of a list of candidates suitable for appointments to Boards.

The Minister for Education in responding to this question, is reporting on the details of board membership for the years prior to the establishment of my Department.

My Department will continue the engagement with the bodies under its remit to ensure appropriate consideration is given to gender balance in the composition of State boards.