Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Departmental Appointments.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

884 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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. [17254/02]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of State-sponsored bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out as follows:

Name	Barrister-Solicitor	Position	Date-Appointed	Fees
Sinead Behan	Solicitor	Member of Irish Sports Council	1 July 1999 to 20 September 2001.	Nil
Elizabeth Maguire	Barrister	Member of Board of Trustees of Chester Beatty Library	21 May 2001 to date	Nil
Eoin McGonigal	Barrister	Director of Irish Museum of Modern Art	21 February 2000 to date	€7,618.43 p.a. as Chairman only since 7 December 2001
Ronan Keane	Chief Justice (ex-officio)	Member of Governors and Guardians of Marsh's Library	31 January 2000 to date	Nil
Gordon Holmes	Solicitor	Member of Bookmakers Appeal Committee of Horse Racing Ireland	Appointed December 1994, reappointed December 1997 and December 2000	€1,270 per annum
Kate Ann O'Donoghue	Solicitor	Member of Bookmakers Appeal Committee ofHorse Racing Ireland	Appointed December 1994, reappointed December 1997 and December 2000	€1,270 per annum
Frank Ward	Solicitor	Member of Leopardstown Committee	4 March 2002 to date	Nil
Con Murphy	Solicitor	Member of Bookmakers Committee of Bord na gCon	June 2001 to date	Nil

The holding of particular legal qualifications or experience was not a requirement for the above positions with the exception of the appointments to the bookmakers appeal committee of Horse Racing Ireland and the bookmakers appeal committee of Bord na gCon. In addition, it should be noted that the Chief Justice is appointed as anex officio member to Marsh's Library board of governors and guardians.

On 9 February 1998, the Government established an independent inquiry into matters relating to child sexual abuse in swimming and appointed Dr. Roderick Murphy SC to carry out the inquiry. Ms Fidelma Macken SC acted as counsel to the inquiry and Ms Mary Cooney was solicitor to the inquiry. The inquiry completed its report on 27 May 1998 and the report was published by the Oireachtas on 17 June 1998. The costs associated with the work of the inquiry, including remuneration, were met by the Office of the Attorney General.

A number of consultancies were commissioned since July 1997 to provide various services for areas which are now the responsibility of my Department. However, as legal qualifications or experience were not requirements for any of these consultancies, I am not in a position to say if any of the persons contracted to carry out these services was a solicitor or barrister. My Department, which was established on 18 June 2002, has not appointed any person as a legal adviser.