Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
631. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether a local public representative would be precluded from applying to the Board of Skillnet; if so, the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44709/23]
View answerSkillnet Ireland is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Article 26 of Skillnet Ireland’s Articles of Association provide for its Board of Directors to comprise 13 members including:
• One nominee of IBEC who will act as the chairperson.
• Six employer/business representatives comprising:
• three nominees from IBEC;
• one nominee from the Small Firms Association;
• one nominee from the Construction Industry Federation;
• one nominee from Chambers Ireland
• Three employee representatives from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
• Three representatives nominated by the Minister.
Having recently re-nominated two serving Directors for a period of two years, I have invited Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons. The information booklet for the EOI process notes that a Skillnet Ireland Board member will cease to be a member of the Board if he or she is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, is elected as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or as a representative in the European Parliament, elected to the European Parliament, or becomes a member of a local authority. Accordingly, a local authority representative would be precluded from applying for nomination to the Board of Skillnet Ireland. While this approach is consistent with some other State Boards, I have asked my officials to explore the question of local authority members’ potential membership with the Board of Skillnet Ireland.
