Enda Kenny
Ceist:4 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the appointments made by him since 17 April 2002 to the State boards and other agencies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14402/02]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - Appointments to State Boards.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:5 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the appointments made by him to boards, agencies or committees operating under the aegis of his Department since 17 May 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16385/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.
The bodies under the aegis of my Department are: the National Statistics Board, the National Economic and Social Council – NESC, the National Economic and Social Forum – NESF, the Information Society Commission, the National Centre for Partnership and Performance – NCPP, and the Law Reform Commission.
In addition, the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) Bill provides for the establishment of the National Economic and Social Development Office, amalgamating NESC, NESF and NCPP. There have been no appointments made to these bodies by me since 17 April 2002.
Regarding committees, the new chairman of the Financial Services Ireland, Mr. William Slattery, has joined the IFSC Clearing House Group and Mr. Ian Clancy, chairman of the Dublin International Insurance and Managers Association, has joined the IFSC Insurance Working Group.
I am aware a tradition existed over many Governments whereby appointments were made in the interregnum period between a Government leaving office and a new Government taking up office. My understanding is that the previous Government appointed up to 60 people in its final days. Is it not the case that members of the public become very cynical about appointments made under these circumstances? First, will the Taoiseach consider the setting up of an appointments commission to deal with such appointments or does he intend to introduce a regulation whereby no appointments would take place in the interregnum periods between Governments leaving and taking up office? Second, if any tribunal finds that a person appointed to a State position is guilty of improper conduct—
That does not arise.
—will that person be removed from any such board?
On the first part of the question, I reiterate that I followed good practice because it did not arise. I have not appointed anybody since 17 April. It is not a good idea to appoint people in the interregnum period between Governments – I have answered that question previously in the House – and I declined to do so when I was in the Department of Finance some years ago. It has its own difficulties, unless it is not an overly important committee or an area of major necessity. I agree with the Deputy that the idea which has developed over the years – and I will not put on the record who scored best in that regard because there were some very high scores – is not a good one.
The Taoiseach's former special adviser has been appointed as a trustee of the Abbey Theatre in recent weeks. Did the Taoiseach have any influence or involvement in that or did he know about it before the appointment was made?
I have to plead ignorance on this one. Which former trusted adviser?
Mr. Paddy Duffy. I understand he was a former special adviser to the Taoiseach.
He was, along with some other eminent people. No, I had no part in the appointment.
I did not hear the Taoiseach.
No. The Deputy has told me something I did not know.
Notwithstanding that the Taoiseach had nothing to report to us today on the nomination to State bodies under his aegis, will he agree that the process of establishing the composition of the boards of State and semi-State companies and other State agencies should be democratised?
That matter does not arise under Questions Nos. 4 or 5.
It does in the sense that many ordinary people believe that a strong element of cronyism is involved.
The Deputy must find a way of raising the matter. It does not arise on Questions Nos. 4 and 5 which deal with appointments since 17 April.
I am asking the Taoiseach if he has ended the system of cronyism in regard to appointments to boards and democratised the process?
The Deputy will have to find another way of raising these questions.