Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Departmental Appointments.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

504 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the solicitors or barristers who were appointed since July 1997 as members or chairpersons of any board or committee or other body, advisers, consultants, or as holders of any other position or office other than judicial office under the aegis of or in his Department; the name of the person in each case; if these persons are a solicitor or barrister; the position to which these persons were appointed; the date of appointment; the date these persons ceased to hold the position if applicable; the remuneration paid since July 1997; and if the holding of particular legal qualifications or experience was a requirement for the position in question. [17251/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen):

I have outlined in the following table the details of solicitors or barristers appointed as members or chairpersons of boards or committees under the aegis of my Department since July 1997. No remuneration was or is payable in connection with their involvement with these boards or com mittees. The holding of particular legal qualifications or experience was not a requirement for appointment to these positions.

The Joint Department of Foreign Affairs-NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights is comprised of representatives of human rights NGOs and experts appointed in an individual capacity, as well as officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs. It is not established on a statutory basis. While individuals may have been appointed who hold professional legal qualifications, possession of such a qualification was not the basis for their appointment and my Department does not necessarily have details of any such qualifications. However, the Department is aware that the individuals listed who are members of the Committee are either solicitors or barristers:

Name	Duration of Assignment	Position Held
Paddy O'Hanlon, Barrister	Task Force on Policy regarding Emigrants – 12/12/01-28/8/02	Chairperson
Mahon Hayes, Barrister	Task Force on Policy regarding Emigrants 12/12/01-28/8/02	Member
Aidan Eames, Solicitor	Agency for Personal Service Overseas 1/8/1999 to date	Chairperson 1/8/1999 to present. Acting Chief Executive 26/6/2002 to date
Paddy Dillon Malone, Barrister	Refugee Agency 1/2/1998-1/2/2000	Chairperson
Ann Colley, Solicitor	Refugee Agency 1/5/2000-1/4/2001	Chairperson
Jim Scally, Solicitor	Irish Aid Advisory Committee 1/1/1998-1/1/1999	Member
Bill Shipsey, Barrister	Irish Aid Advisory Committee 1/1/1998-1/11/1998	Member
David Andrews, Barrister	Advisory Board of Ireland Aid 1/8/2002 to date	Member
Prof. Gerard Quinn, Barrister,	Joint Department of Foreign Affairs-NGO Standing Committee – appointed June 1997	Member
Ms Karen Kenny, Barrister,	Joint Department of Foreign Affairs-NGO Standing Committee – appointed June 1997	Member
Ms Siobhain Ní Chulachain, Barrister,	Joint Department of Foreign Affairs-NGO Standing Committee – appointed February 1999	Member
Mr. Michael Farrell, Solicitor,	Joint Department of Foreign Affairs/ NGO Standing Committee – appointed June 1997	Member

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

505 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount paid since July 1997 to date in 2002 in fees, salary, allowances including delegates' allowances, expenses and other payments to any person in or under the aegis of his Department who is or was a special adviser within the meaning of the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995; the name of the person in each case; the amount paid to each person; the breakdown as between salary, allowances, expenses and other payments; the date on which each person was appointed; if, in the case of persons no longer holding such position, the date on which the appointment ceased. [17266/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen):

The following table provides details of the persons, the duration of assignment and the amount paid in fees, salary, allowances, including delegate's allowances, expenses and other payments in each case during the period 26 June 1997 to date (07/10/02):

Name	Duration of Assignment	Amount paid
		€
Gerry Steadman	4/2/2000 to date	151,817.22 (gross salary)3,392.74 (delegate's allowance) 11,486.39 (travel expenses)
Gerry Gervin	8/10/1997-28/10/1999	115,186.95 (gross salary) 26,024.74 (travel expenses)
Tony Lambert	27/06/97-07/10/97	20,317.50