Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
604. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the vacancies that are currently available on State boards (details supplied); the way that these vacancies will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37258/22]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Details in relation to the current vacancies on each of these boards are set out below:
Citizens Information Board
There are currently four vacancies on the Board of the Citizens Information Board. These vacancies will be filled through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) process, in line with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards as set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - that is, an open, accessible, rigorous and transparent system in making appointments to State Boards.
Pensions Authority
There are currently no vacancies on the board of the Pensions Authority. The membership of the Pensions Authority consists of an independent Chairperson appointed by the Minister for Social Protection and two ex-officio members representing the Department of Finance and the Department of Social Protection.
Pensions Council
There is currently one vacancy on the Board of the Pensions Council, an ex-officio member representing the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In accordance with the provisions of the Pensions Act 1990, this appointment is made by the Minister for Social Protection, on foot of a nomination from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Social Welfare Tribunal
There is currently one vacancy on the Social Welfare Tribunal, that of the Chairperson. In line with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the PAS process will be used to fill this vacancy. The members of the Tribunal are appointed by the Minister for Social Protection and consist of an independent Chairperson and two members, each nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and the Irish Business Employer’s Confederation (IBEC).
