Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
42. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of State boards under the remit of his Department or its agencies; the total number of members of each board; the numbers on each board broken down according to gender; and the number of persons with a declared disability on each board in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41385/22]
View answerPlease find hereunder the details that the Deputy has requested pursuant to PQ: 41385/22.
The Public Appointments Service, through StateBoards.ie is responsible for selecting and recommending for appointment, Chairpersons and Members (Non-Executive Directors), to the boards of State Agencies. This is done through an open and transparent process to identify eminently qualified candidates for the boards of State Agencies. The State Boards process operates under the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards 2014 (Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards). Section 5.5 of these Guidelines state that “candidates for State Boards should be drawn from the widest possible pool of applicants with these attributes. Consequently, the competitions are focussed on ensuring that the processes of identifying and assessing candidates recognises that the characteristics of effective board members are demonstrated and obtained from a breadth and depth of experience in all walks of life.”
Drawing from the National Disability Authority website there are a number of definitions of ‘disability’ as follows:
The Disability Act 2005 set out the following definition:“disability”, in relation to a person, means a substantial restriction in the capacity of the person to carry on a profession, business or occupation in the State or to participate in social or cultural life in the State by reason of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment The Equality Acts (Employment Equality Acts and the Equal Status Acts), which outlaw discrimination on grounds of disability, use a wider definition, and cover past as well as current disability:"Disability means:(a) the total or partial absence of a person’s bodily or mental functions, including the absence of a part of a person’s body;(b) the presence in the body of organisms causing, or likely to cause, chronic disease or illness;(c) the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of a person’s body;(d) a condition or malfunction which results in a person learning differently from a person without the condition or malfunction; or(e) a condition, disease or illness which affects a person’s thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgement or which results in disturbed behaviour." Census 2011, and other official surveys, used the following definition of disability:A person with one or more of the following long-lasting conditions or difficulties:- Blindness or a severe vision impairment- Deafness or a severe hearing impairment- An intellectual disability- A difficulty with learning, remembering or concentrating- A difficulty with basic physical activities- A psychological or emotional condition- A difficulty with pain, breathing, or any other chronic illness or condition
Given the broadness of the definitions as set out above one may conclude that it is likely some Board members may have disabilities. Board members are not obliged to disclose personal information regarding any disabilities they may have and in such circumstances Board Members who may have a disability may be members of Boards under the aegis of my Department, however as it is not mandated to make this known this information is not available.
Applications for State Boards appointments are encouraged from all members of the community.
|
State Board |
Total number of Members |
Number of Female Members |
Number of Male Members |
Number with a declared disability |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
Max No. of Members 13 Currently 11 with two vacancies |
6 |
5 |
Unknown |
|
IDA Ireland |
Max No. of Members 12 Currently 10 with two vacancies |
3 |
7 |
Unknown |
|
Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) |
Max No. of Members 11Currently 10 with one vacancy |
5 |
5 |
Unknown |
|
Workplace Relations Commission |
Max No. of Members 9 |
4 |
5 |
Unknown |
|
National Standards of Ireland (NSAI) |
Max No. of Members 13 Currently 11 with two vacancies |
5 |
6 |
Unknown |
|
Health and Safety Authority (HSA) |
Max No. of Members 12 |
5 |
7 |
Unknown |
|
Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) |
Max No. of Members 9 |
4 |
5 |
Unknown |
|
Low Pay Commission |
Max No. of Members 9 |
4 |
5 |
Unknown |
|
InterTrade Ireland* |
Max No. of Members 9** |
2 |
7 |
Unknown |
*The Department of the Economy NI (DfE) is due to appoint new board members however this has been delayed.
** Ireland appoints 6 members (currently 2 female and 4 male). Northern Ireland appoints 3 members (currently 3 male).
