There are six agencies operating under the aegis of my Department: the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman, the Combat Poverty Agency, Comhairle, the Family Support Agency and the Social Welfare Tribunal. In making appointments to boards regard is had to the Government's policy in relation to minimum representation — 40% of both men and women among members of the boards of State bodies.
The remit of the Pensions Board, which was established on 21 December 1990, is to monitor and supervise the operation of the Pensions Act, and pensions developments generally. Representation on the Pensions Board is dictated by section 8 of the First Schedule of the Pensions Act 1990. The board consists of 16 ordinary members with the chairperson appointed by the Minister. The First Schedule also sets out criteria for the appointment of 13 ordinary members to the board, for example, one shall be a representative of the actuarial profession and one shall be a representative of the accounting profession.
The First Schedule also states that the members of the board representing various interests shall be nominated by organisation/s which the Minister considers to be representative of the various professions. The Pensions Act 1990 does not specify particular qualifications for membership of the board.
The Pensions Board.
Appointments to the Pensions Board since 1994 are outlined as follows:
Name
|
Nominated by
|
Kevin Brabazon
|
Nominated by Irish Business & Employers Confederation
|
Kay Brophy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Mary Broughan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Alan Broxson
|
Nominated by Irish Association of Pensioner Funds
|
Brian Buggy
|
Nominated by Association of Pension Lawyers in Ireland
|
John Byrne
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Rosheen Callender
|
Nominated by Irish Congress of Trade Unions
|
Deirdre Carroll
|
Representative of the Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Marie Daly
|
Nominated by Irish Business & Employers Confederation
|
Pat Delaney
|
Nominated by Irish Business & Employers Confederation
|
Tom Finlay
|
Nominated by Irish Association of Pension Funds
|
Michael Guilfoyle
|
Representative of the Minister for Finance
|
Kate Hayes
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Monica Healy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Eamonn Heffernan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Mary Howe
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
John Hynes
|
Representative of the Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Caroline Jenkinson
|
Nominated by Irish Business & Employers Confederation
|
Jim Kehoe
|
Nominated by Society of Actuaries in Ireland
|
Paul Kelly
|
Nominated by Society of Actuaries in Ireland
|
Raymonde Kelly
|
Nominated by Association of Pension Lawyers in Ireland
|
Maria Kinlan
|
Nominated by Irish Congress of Trade Unions
|
Michael Lane
|
Nominated by Association of Pension Lawyers in Ireland
|
Ciaran Long
|
Nominated by Irish Insurance Federation
|
Niamh Maguire
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Anne Maher
|
Nominated by Irish Association of Pension Funds
|
Gerry Mangan
|
Representative of the Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Donal McAleese
|
Nominated by Irish Business and Employer’s Confederation
|
Stephen McCarthy
|
Nominated by Irish Congress of Trade Unions
|
Brian McCracken
|
Nominated by Association of Pension Lawyers in Ireland
|
Veronica McDermott
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Joe Mooney
|
Representative of the Minister for Finance
|
Mary O’Donnell
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Patricia O’Donovan
|
Nominated by Irish Congress of Trade Unions
|
Tim Quirke
|
Representative of the Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Anne Vaughan
|
Representative of the Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Fergus Whelan
|
Nominated by Irish Congress of Trade Unions
|
Robert Woods
|
Nominated by Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies in Ireland
|
Tom Wright
|
Nominated by Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies in Ireland
|
Grainne Clohessy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Michael McNulty
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Michael O’Halloran
|
Representative of Senior Citizens Interests (nominated by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs)
|
Carmel Foley
|
Representative of Consumer Interests (nominated by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs)
|
Dermot Quigley
|
Representative of the Minister for Finance
|
Pensions Ombudsman
The remit of the Pensions Ombudsman, established in September 2003, is to investigate and decide on complaints and disputes involving occupational pension schemes and personal retirement savings accounts, PRSAs. Mr. Paul Kenny was appointed Pensions Ombudsman on 28 April 2003 on foot of an open competition undertaken by the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission. Mr. Kenny is a former Chairman of the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland. He has worked with Irish Pensions Trust-Mercer Human Resources Consulting and was head of retirement research. He holds a B.Comm (NUI) and is a Fellow of the Pensions Management Institute and of the Irish Institute of Pensions Managers.
Combat Poverty Agency (CPA)
The Combat Poverty Agency has an advisory, research and public information role in relation to poverty issues and a role in initiating and evaluating programmes in this area. Its role is set out in the Combat Poverty Agency Act 1986. Persons are appointed by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to the board of the CPA under sections 6 and 7 of the Combat Poverty Agency Act 1986. No specific qualification criteria are specified in relation to appointments and there are no nominating bodies.
Appointments are valid for a period of up to three years. The board includes a representative from the Combat Poverty Agency, CPA, elected by CPA staff members, and a representative from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The director of the CPA is also appointed to the board.
Current legislation provides that the number of members of the CPA at any one time shall not be less than eight or more than 16.
Appointments to the CPA board since 1994 are as follows:
Name
|
Nominated by
|
Helen Johnston
|
Combat Poverty Agency staff representative from February 1994 and Director, from September 2001 to date
|
Pat O’Hara
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Tom Collins
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Deirdre Carroll
|
Representative of the Department of Social & Family Affairs
|
Anna Lee
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Berni Brady
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Fergus McCabe
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Fionnuala Richardson
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Hugh Frazer
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Michelle Power
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Pat Ridge
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Eoin O Malley
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Niall Fitzduff
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Clare Farrell
|
Combat Poverty Agency staff representative
|
Brian Kenny
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Feargus Ó Raghallaigh
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Liam Barrett
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Pearse O’Hanrahan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Frank Mulcahy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Bernadette Lacey
|
Representative of the Department of Social & Family Affairs
|
Fintan Farrell
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Rachel Farrell
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Benny Devlin
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Alice Robertson
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Niall O’Keefe
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Maria Corrigan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Michael Waugh
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Christina Maguire
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Margaret Sweeney
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Grace Maguire
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Brian Duncan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Bernard Feeney
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Mary Kennedy
|
Representative of the Department of Social & Family Affairs
|
Seamus McAleavey
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Joan O’Flynn
|
Combat Poverty Agency staff representative
|
Tony Lane
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Alice Robertson
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Maria Gorman
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Frank Curran
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Anthony Gavin
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Marie O’Neill
|
Representative of the Department of Social & Family Affairs
|
Olive Sweetman
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Tony O’Callaghan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Callista Bennis
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Orlaigh Quinn
|
Representative of the Department of Social & Family Affairs
|
Comhairle
Comhairle was established in June 2000 under the Comhairle Act 2000. It replaced the National Social Services Board and the information service provided by the National Rehabilitation Board with a new mainstream information and support service. Members of the existing National Social Services Board were appointed to the board of Comhairle. Comhairle is responsible for the provision of independent information, advice and advocacy services for citizens throughout the country, including people with disabilities.
The legislation provides that the board shall include five members representative of people with disabilities nominated by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, an elected member of staff and a representative from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The remaining 13 members are representative of the following interests: health boards, local authorities, local development, citizens information centres, independent information providers and general interests. The legislation also provides that the Minister, when making appointments to the board, shall have regard to the objective of having a minimum of eight men and eight women on the board.
Appointments to the board of Comhairle since June 2000 are as follows:
Name
|
Nominated by
|
Dr. Donal De Buitleir
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Marion Byrne
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Carol Brill
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Tom Mulherin
|
Representative of the Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Clare Young
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Mary Fitzgerald
|
Comhairle staff representative
|
Rosari Moylan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Mary Murphy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Michael McLoone
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Peter Sands
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Billy Mahoney
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Tom Doherty
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Martin Naughton
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Anne Marie White
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Kitty King
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Terry O’Sullivan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
John Hogan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Peter McLachlan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Olive Howlett
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Alan O’Connor
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Inez Bailey
|
Nominated by Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform (Director of the National Adult Literacy Agency)
|
Nigel Brander
|
Nominated by Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform (Chairman of People with Disabilities in Ireland)
|
Mairin Byrne
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Caroline Casey
|
Nominated by Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform (Ashling Foundation)
|
John Bosco Conomo
|
Nominated by Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform (Honorary Secretary of the Irish Deaf Society)
|
Ian Coulter
|
Comhairle staff representative
|
Tom Daly
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
John Gallahue
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Paul Hogan
|
Nominated by Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform (Vice Chairman of Disabilities in Ireland — founder member of the Institute of Disability and Design)
|
Hubert Kearns
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Maria Mangan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Joe Meagher
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
David Ormond
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Michael Walsh
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Patricia Walshe
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Ann Marie White
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Oliver Wilkinson
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Rosemary Farrell
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Brian Flynn
|
Representative of the Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Mary Lyne
|
Comhairle staff representative
|
Rosarie Moylan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Fionnuala McCarthy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
National Social Services Board
The following people were members of the National Social Services Board, NSSB, from 1994, responsibility for which was transferred to the Department of Social Welfare on 1 June 1995. There were no nominating bodies for appointments to the NSSB.
Name
|
Nominated by
|
Dr Donal de Buitleir
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Paula Clancy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Mel Cousins
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Joan Duffy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Denis Foley
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Katie Kelly
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Geralyn McGarry
|
National Social Services Board staff representative
|
Michael McLoone
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Rosarie Moylan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Tom Mulherin
|
Representative of the Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Mary Murphy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Martin Naughton
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Mary O’Connell
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Padraig Rehill
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Monica Weir
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Carol Brill
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Marion Byrne
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Tom Doherty
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Mary Fitzgerald
|
National Social Services Board staff representative
|
John Hogan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Olive Howlett
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Kitty King
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Billy Mahoney
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Peter McLachlan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Alan O’Connor
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Peter Sands
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Terry O’Sullivan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Anne Marie White
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Clare Young
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Board of Family Support Agency
The Family Support Agency has responsibilities in relation to family mediation services, marriage and relationship counselling, promotion of information and research and provision of advice on family related issues and developing a range of family support services, as set out in the Family Support Agency Act 2001.
The Act provides that there shall be 12 members, including the chairperson on the board. These shall include persons with an interest and expertise in the functions of the agency, one member of staff of the agency, a representative of the Minister and not more than three officers of another Minister of the Government.
Name
|
Nominated by
|
Michael O’Kennedy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Paddie Connellan
|
Appointed by Minister for Social and Family Affairs
|
Sinead Hanly
|
Appointed by Minister for Social and Family Affairs
|
Gerard Mangan
|
Representative of Department of Social & Family Affairs
|
Clare Cashman
|
Nominated by Family Resource Centre National Forum
|
Dick Hickey
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Brendan Murphy
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Dr Colm O’Connor
|
Appointed for Minister for Social & Family Affairs (ACCORD)
|
Muriel Walls
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Dilly O’Brien
|
Nominated by Minister for Health and Children
|
Brid Rocks
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Margaret Farrell
|
Family Support Agency Staff Representative
|
Social Welfare Tribunal
The Social Welfare Tribunal is a statutory body set up in 1982 to deal with cases where entitlement to unemployment benefit or assistance is refused due to involvement in a trade dispute. The tribunal consists of a chairman and four ordinary members, two on the nomination of ICTU and two nominated by IBEC. All members are appointed by the Minister. The appointments are for a term of three years.
The persons appointed to the tribunal since 1994 are as follows:
Name
|
Nominated by
|
Thomas Noonan
|
Irish Business & Employers Confederation
|
Hazel Bye
|
Irish Business & Employers Confederation
|
Kevin Duffy
|
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
|
Dympna Harper
|
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
|
Michael Keegan (Chairman)
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Joseph Chadwick (Chairman)
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Fergus Whelan
|
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
|
Aidan Bunyan (Chairman)
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Colin Walker (Chairman)
|
Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Patrick Pierce
|
Irish Business & Employers Confederation
|
Colin Walker
|
(Chairman) Appointed by Minister for Social & Family Affairs
|
Fergus Whelan
|
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
|
Dympna Harpur
|
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
|
Richard Keating
|
Irish Business & Employers Confederation
|