Appointments to State Boards.

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.

The information sought by the Deputies concerning the names of persons appointed by me to State boards under my Department's aegis — the National Economic and Social Council, the National Economic and Social Forum, the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, the Law Reform Commission and the National Statistics Board — since June 1997 is set out in a schedule that I am circulating in the Official Report for the information of the House. The schedule also lists appointments made in respect of bodies that no longer come under the aegis of my Department, namely, the Information Society Commission, Digital Media Development Limited and Campus and Stadium Ireland Development, CSID.

The members of State bodies under the aegis of my Department are appointed through well established nominating procedures, having regard to the remit of the bodies and, consequently, to the specific competencies and skills expected of their members. In many instances, members are nominated through relevant nominating panels. The NESC and NESF, for example, comprise representatives of the various pillars involved in social partnership, that is, employer bodies, trade unions, farming organisations and community and voluntary organisations.

I have not made any declaration of interests pursuant to the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 or the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 in regard to appointments to those bodies as the need for such a declaration did not arise.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

List of appointments to the National Centre for Partnership and Performance since its establishment

National Centre for Partnership and Performance
Executive Chairperson	Mr. Peter Cassells		October 2001-April 2004 Reappointed: 7 November 2005
Government Departments
	Mr. Philip Kelly, Assistant Secretary Deputy Chairperson	Department of the Taoiseach	October 2001 Reappointed: 24 January 2006
	Mr. Ciaran Connolly, Assistant Secretary	Department of Finance	October 2001 Reappointed: 24 January 2006
	Mr. Maurice Cashell	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment	October 2001
	Mr. John Walsh, Assistant. Secretary	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment	June 2002 — replaced Mr. Maurice Cashell Reappointed: 24 January 2006
	Ms. Sylda Langford, Assistant. Secretary	Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform	October 2001
Employers
	Mr. Brendan McGinty	Director, Human/Industrial Resources, IBEC	October 2001 Reappointed: 24 January 2006
	Mr. Liam Doherty	Director, Human Resource Services, IBEC	October 2001 Reappointed: 24 January 2006
	Mr. Eddie Keenan	CIF	24 January 2006
	Ms. Irene Canavan	Arnotts	24 January 2006
	Ms. Marie Moynihan	Human Resource Manager, Dell Direct	October 2001
	Mr. Terry McEvoy	Director, Industrial Relations, CIF	October 2001
	Mr. Morgan Nolan	Industrial Relations, CIF	Jan 2004 — replaced Terry McEvoy

National Centre for Partnership and Performance
Trade Unions
	Mr. Tom Wall	Assistant General Secretary, ICTU	October 2001
	Mr. Fergus Whelan	Industrial Officer, ICTU	October 2003 — replaced Mr. Tom Wall Reappointed: 24 January 2006
	Mr. Jerry Shanahan	AMICUS	24 January 2006
	Ms. Catherine Byrne	INTO	24 January 2006
	Mr. Jack O’Connor	General President, SIPTU	October 2001
	Ms. Marie Levis	Assistant. General Secretary, IMPACT	October 2001
	Mr. John Tierney	National Secretary, MSF	October 2001
	Mr. Des Geraghty	Member of Executive Council, ICTU	September 2004 — replaced Mr John Tierney, MSF
	Mr. Gerry McCormack	SIPTU	24 January 2006
	Ms Angela Kirk	IMPACT	September 2004 — replaced Ms Marie Levis
	Prof. Joyce O’Connor	National College of Ireland	24 January 2006
	Mr. Seán Heading, Education and Training Services Trust has been nominated by ICTU as an alternate
Independent Members
	Prof. Bill Roche	Dean of Research, Smurfit Business School, UCD	October 2001
	Dr. Sheelah Ryan	CEO, Western Health Board	October 2001
	Mr. Seamus O’Brien	Partnership Facilitator, Galtee Meats	October 2001
	Prof. Kathy Monks	Dean, DCU Business School	October 2001
	Ms Dorothy Butler Scally	Independent Human Resources Consultant	24 January 2006
	Dr. Catherine Kavanagh	UCC	24 January 2006

List of appointments to the National Economic and Social Council from 1997

National Economic and Social Council
Chairperson	Dermot McCarthy	Secretary General Department of the Taoiseach	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
Deputy Chairperson	Mary Doyle	Assistant Secretary Department of the Taoiseach	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
Trade Union Pillar Nominees
	Dave Begg	General Secretary, ICTU	Nov 1998Sept 2003
	Peter Cassells	ICTU	Nov 1998
	Patricia O’Donovan	ICTU	Nov 1998
	Joan Carmichael (replaced Patricia O’Donovan)	ICTU	Nov 1998Sept 2003
	Sally Anne Kinahan (replaced Joan Carmichael)	ICTU	Jan 2004
	Peter McLoone	IMPACT	Nov 1998Sept 2003
	Charlie Lennon	ASTI	Nov 1998
	Des Geraghty (replaced Charlie Lennon)	SIPTU	June 2001
	Jimmy Somers	SIPTU	Nov 1998
	Manus O’Riordan (replaced Jimmy Somers)	SIPTU	Mar 2000Sept 2003
	Jack O’Connor	SIPTU	Sept 2003
Business and Employer or Organisation Pillar Nominees
	Turlough O’Sullivan	IBEC	Nov 1998
	Aileen O’Donoghue (replaced Turlough O’Sullivan)	IBEC	Sept 2003
	Simon Nugent	CCI	Nov 1998
	Tom Toner	IBEC	Nov 1998
	Brian Geoghegan (replaced Tom Toner)	IBEC	Mar 2001 Sept 2003
	Danny McCoy (replaced Brian Geoghegan)		Oct 2005
	John Dunne	CCI	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
	Liam Kelleher	CIF	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
	Brendan Butler	IBEC	Nov 1998 Sept 2003

National Economic and Social Council
Agricultural and Farming Organisation Pillar Nominees
	Gregg Tierney	ICOS	Nov 1998
	Seamus O’Donohue	Irish Co-operative Organisation Society	April 2000 (replaced Gregg Tierney) Sept 2003
	Ciaran Dolan	ICMSA	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
	Michael Berkery	General Secretary, IFA	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
	Tom Curren	Macra na Feirme	Nov 1998
	Maria Moynihan	Macra na Feirme	Oct 1999 (replaced Tom Curren and resigned July 2000 )
	Damian McDonald	Macra na Feirme	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
	Con Lucey	Chief Economist, IFA	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
Community and Voluntary Pillar Nominees
	Fr. Seán Healy	CORI	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
	Dr. Katherine Zappone	National Women’s Council	Nov 1998
	Orla O’Connor	National Women’s Council	April 2000 (replaced Katherine Zappone)
	Siobhán O’Donoghue	Community Workers Co-operative	Nov 1998
	Dan Boyle	National Youth Council	Nov 1998
	Donal Geoghegan	National Youth Council	September 2002 (replaced Dan Boyle) Sept 2003
	Tony Monks	INOU	Nov 1998
	Noeleen Hartigan (replaced Tony Monks)	INOU	Nov 2001
	Deirdre Garvey	The Wheel	Sep 2003
	Mike Allen	INOU	Nov 1998
	John Mark McCafferty	Saint Vincent de Paul	Sep 2003
	John Dolan	Disability Federation of Ireland	Sep 2003

National Economic and Social Council
Government Department Nominees
	Tom Considine	Secretary General Department of Finance	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
	Paul Haran	Secretary General Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
	John Hynes	Secretary General, Department of Social and Family Affairs	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
	Brendan Tuohy	Secretary General, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
	John Fitzgerald	Dublin City Manager, Dublin City Council	Nov 1998
	John Hurley	Secretary General, Department of Finance	Nov 1998
	Eddie Sullivan	Secretary General, Department of Social and Community Affairs	Nov 1998
	Niall Callan	Secretary General Department Environment, Heritage and Local Government	Sept 2003
	Seán Gorman (replaced Paul Haran)	Secretary General, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment	Oct 2004
Independent Nominees
	Jim Walsh	Department of Geography NUI Maynooth	Nov 1998
	John Fitzgerald	ESRI	Nov 1998 Sept 2003
	Irene Bergin	ISME	Aug 1998
	Angela Kennedy	Megazame International	Feb 2001 (replaced Irene Bergin)
	Geraldine McAteer	West Belfast Partnership	Nov 1998
	David Finn	Aer Rianta Official	Nov 2001 (replaced Angela Kennedy who resigned July 01)
	Brigid Laffan	UCD	Sept 2003
	Eithne McLaughlin	Queens University	Sept 2003
	Peter Bacon	Economic Consultant	Sept 2003
	Colin Hunt	Goodbody Stockbrokers	Sept 2003
	Dr. Seán Barrett	Economic Consultant	Jan 2005 (replaced Colin Hunt)

List of appointments to the National Economic and Social Forum since 1997

National Economic and Social Forum
Full Membership 2004
Independent Chairperson	Maureen Gaffney		Jan/Feb 2004
Deputy Chairperson	Mary Doyle	Assistant Sec., Department of the Taoiseach	Jan/Feb 2004
Independent Appointments	Dr. Mary P. Corcoran	Senior Lecturer, NUI, Maynooth	Jan/Feb 2004
	Cáit Keane	South Dublin County Council	Jan/Feb 2004
	Dr. Colm Harmon	Director, Institute for the Study of Social Change, UCD	Jan/Feb 2004
	Mr. Brian Nolan	Research Professor, ESRI	Jan/Feb 2004
	Mr. Paul Tansey	Economist	Jan/Feb 2004
Strand (i) Oireachtas	Michael Woods	Fianna Fáil TD	Jan/Feb 2004
	John Curran	Fianna Fáil TD	Jan/Feb 2004
	Senator Mary O’Rourke	Fianna Fáil	Jan/Feb 2004
	Senator Paschal Mooney	Fianna Fáil	Jan/Feb 2004
	Senator Brendan Daly	Fianna Fáil	Jan/Feb 2004
	Senator Geraldine Feeney	Fianna Fáil	Jan/Feb 2004
	Pat Carey	Fianna Fáil TD	Jan/Feb 2004
	Senator Paul Coghlan	Fine Gael	Jan/Feb 2004
	Damien English	Fine Gael TD	Jan/Feb 2004
	Paul Kehoe	Fine Gael TD	Jan/Feb 2004
	Joan Burton	Labour TD	Jan/Feb 2004
	Willie Penrose	Labour TD	Jan/Feb 2004
	Senator Kate Walsh	Progressive Democrats	Jan/Feb 2004
	Senator Feargal Quinn	Independents	Jan/Feb 2004
	Jerry Cowley	Technical Group TD	Jan/Feb 2004
Strand (ii) Employer/Trade Unions
Employer/Business Organisations	Jackie Harrison	IBEC	Jan/Feb 2004
	Maria Cronin	IBEC	Oct/Nov 2004 (replaced Jackie Harrison)
	Tony Donohue	IBEC	Sept 2006(replaced Maria Cronin)
	Heidi Lougheed	IBEC	Jan/Feb 2004
	Patricia Callan	Small Firms Association	Jan/Feb 2004
	Kevin Gilna	Construction Industry Federation	Jan/Feb 2004
	Carmel Mulroy	Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Industry/Exporters Association	Jan/Feb 2004

National Economic and Social Forum
Trade Unions	Eamon Devoy	Technical Engineering and Electrical Union	Jan/Feb 2004
	Blair Horan	Civil and Public Service Union	Jan/Feb 2004
	Jerry Shanahan	AMICUS	Jan/Feb 2004
	Manus O’Riordan	SIPTU	Jan/Feb 2004
	Paula Carey	ICTU	Jan/Feb 2004
	Esther Lynch	ICTU	Sept 2006 (Replaced Paula Carey)
Agricultural/Farming Organisations	Mary McGreal	Irish Farmers Association	Jan/Feb 2004
	Michael Doody	Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association	Jan/Feb 2004
	Mary Johnson	Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society	Jan/Feb 2004
	Carmel Brennan	Macra na Feirme	Jan/Feb 2004
	Anne Murray	Irish Country Women’s Association	Jan/Feb 2004
	Carmel Dawson	Irish Country Women’s Association	June 2006 (Replaced Anne Murray)
Strand (iii) Community and Voluntary Sector
Women’s Organisations	Frances Byrne	National Women’s Council of Ireland	Jan/Feb 2004
	Joanna McMinn	National Women’s Council of Ireland	Jan/Feb 2004
Unemployed	June Tinsley	INOU	Jan/Feb 2004
	Patricia Short	ICTU Centres for the Unemployed	Jan/Feb 2004
Disadvantaged	Sr. Brigid Reynolds	CORI	Jan/Feb 2004
	John-Mark McCafferty	Society of Saint Vincent de Paul	Jan/Feb 2004
	Audrey Deane	Society of Saint Vincent de Paul	Nov 2004 (replaced John-Mark McCafferty)
	Sharon Keane	Anti-Poverty Networks	Jan/Feb 2004
Youth/Children	Malcolm Byrne	NYCI	Jan/Feb 2004
	Raymond Dooley	Children’s Rights Alliance	Jan/Feb 2004
Older People	Robin Webster	National Council for Ageing and Older People/Senior Citizen’s Parliament/Age Action	Jan/Feb 2004
Others	Seán Gallagher	The Carers Association	Jan/Feb 2004
	Seamus Boland	Irish Rural Link	Jan/Feb 2004
	Fergus O’Ferrall	The Wheel	Jan/Feb 2004

National Economic and Social Forum
Strand (iv) Central Government, Local Government and Independents
Central Government	Tom Considine	Secretary General, Department of Finance	Jan/Feb 2004
	Paul Haran	Secretary General, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment	Jan/Feb 2004 Retired 22/10/04
	John Hynes	Secretary General, Department of Social and Family Affairs	Jan/Feb 2004
	Gerry Kearney	Secretary General, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs	Jan/Feb 2004
	Niall Callan	Secretary General, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government	Jan/Feb 2004
Local Government	Councillor John Egan	General Council of County Councils	Jan/Feb 2004
	Councillor Ger Barron	General Council of County Councils	Nov 2004 (replaced Cllr. John Egan)
	Councillor Patsy Treanor	General Council of County Councils	Jan/Feb 2004
	Councillor Jack Crowe	General Council of County Councils	Nov 2004 (replaced Cllr Patsy Treanor)
	Councillor Constance Hanniffy	General Council of County Councils	Jan/Feb 2004
	Councillor Patricia McCarthy	Association of Municipal Authorities	Jan/Feb 2004
	Donal O’Donoghue	County and City Managers Association	Jan/Feb 2004
	John Tierney	County and City Managers Association	Nov 2004 (replaced Donal O’Donoghue)
Independents	Dr. Colm Harmon	Institute for the Study of Social Change, UCD	Jan/Feb 2004
	Dr. Mary P. Corcoran	Department of Sociology	Jan/Feb 2004
	Dr. Brian Nolan	ESRI	Jan/Feb 2004
	Paul Tansey	Tansey, Webster, Stewart and Company Limited	Jan/Feb 2004
	Cáit Keane	South Dublin County Council	Jan/Feb 2004
Full Membership 1998
Independent Chairperson	Ms Maureen Gaffney		October 1998
Deputy Chairperson	Mr. Dermot McCarthy	Department of the Taoiseach	October 1998
Independent Appointments	Prof. Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh	NUI, Galway	October 1998
	Ms Marian Vickers	Northside Partnership	October 1998
	Ms Helen Johnston	Surg. Equipment Limited	October 1998
	Mr. Niall Fitzduff	Rural Communities Network	October 1998
	Ms Noreen Kearney	Trinity College, Dublin	October 1998

National Economic and Social Forum
Strand (i) Oireachtas	Deputy Gerry Reynolds	Fine Gael	October 1998
	Deputy Paul McGrath	Fine Gael	October 1998
	Deputy Billy Timmins	Fine Gael	October 1998
	Deputy Mary Jackman	Fine Gael	October 1998
	Senator Therese Ridge	Fine Gael	October 1998
	Deputy Derek McDowell	Labour	October 1998
	Senator Joe Costello	Labour	October 1998
	Deputy Michael Lowry	Independent	October 1998
	Deputy Noel Ahern	Fianna Fáil	October 1998
	Deputy Seán Haughey	Fianna Fáil	October 1998
	Deputy Beverly Cooper-Flynn	Fianna Fáil	October 1998
	Deputy Michael Kitt	Fianna Fáil	October 1998
	Senator Helen Keogh	Progressive Democrats	October 1998
	Senator Margaret Cox	Fianna Fáil	October 1998
	Senator Pascal Mooney	Fianna Fáil	October 1998
Strand (ii) Employer/Trade Unions
Employers/Business	Mr. Brian Geoghegan	IBEC	October 1998
	Ms Aileen O’Donoghue	IBEC	October 1998
	Ms Lilian O’Carroll	SFA	October 1998
	Ms Mirette Corboy	CIF	October 1998
	Ms Alison Begas	Chambers of Commerce	October 1998
Farming	Ms Eileen Doyle	Macra na Feirme	October 1998
	Mr. John Dillon	IFA	October 1998
	Ms Mary Coleman	ICOS	October 1998
	Mr. Pat O’Rourke	ICMSA	October 1998
	Ms Eva Coyle	ICWA	October 1998
Trade Unions	Mr. Eamon Devoy	TWEU	October 1998
	Mr. Blair Horan	CPSU	October 1998
	Mr. John Tierney	ICTU	October 1998
	Mr. Manus O’Riordan	SIPTU	October 1998
	Ms Rosaleen Glacken	ICTU	October 1998

National Economic and Social Forum
Strand (iii) Community and Voluntary
Women’s Organisations	Ms Susan McNaughton	NWC	October 1998
	Ms Grainne Healy	NWC	October 1998
	Ms Ursula Barry	NWC	October 1998
Unemployed	Ms Joan Condon	Limerick Centre for the Unemployed	October 1998
	Ms Mary Murphy	Dundalk Centre for theUnemployed	October 1998
	Mr. Mike Allen	INOU	October 1998
Disadvantaged	Mr. Chris McInerney	Community Workers Co-Op	October 1998
	Ms Janice Ransom	N/A	October 1998
	Mr. Joe Gallagher	Community Training Programme	October 1998
Youth	Mr. Gearóid Ó Maolmhichíl	NYCI	October 1998
The Elderly	Mr. Paddy Donegan	Retired Workers Committee	October 1998
Disability Interests	Mr. Roger Acton	DFI	October 1998
Environment	Ms Jeanne Meldon	National Planning Committee	October 1998
Others	Fr Seán Healy	CORI	October 1998
	Mr. Liam O’Dwyer	St. Vincent de Paul	October 1998
Strand (iv) Central Government, Local Government and Independents
Local Government	Councillor Constance Hanniffy	General Council of County Councils	October 1998
	Councillor Tom Kelleher	General Council of County Councils	October 1998
	Councillor Enda Nolan	General Council of County Councils	October 1998
	Councillor Tadgh Curtis	Association of Municipal Authorities	October 1998
	Mr. D. O’Donoghue	County and City Managers Association	October 1998
Government Departments	Department of Finance	Department of Finance	October 1998
	Mr. Paul Haran	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment	October 1998 Retired 22/10/04
	Mr. Eddie Sullivan	Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs	October 1998
	Ms Margaret Hayes	Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation	October 1998
	Mr. Jimmy Farrelly	Department of the Environment and Local Government	October 1998
Independents	Prof. Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh	National University of Ireland, Galway	October 1998
	Ms Marian Vickers	Northside Partnership	October 1998
	Ms Helen Johnston	Surg. Equipment Limited	October 1998
	Mr. Niall Fitzduff	Rural Communities Network	October 1998
	Ms Noreen Kearney	Trinity College	October 1998

List of appointments to the Law Reform Commission since 1997

Law Reform Commission
President	The Hon. Mr. Justice Vivian Lavan	Judge of the High Court	27 July 1998 — retired February 2000
President	The Hon. Mr. Justice Declan Budd	High Court.	22nd February, 2000 — retired 21 February 2005
President	Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness	Judge of the Supreme Court	22 February 2005
Commissioner (Full-time)	Patricia T. Rickard-Clarke,	Solicitor	1 October 2001. Reappointed 30 September 2004
Commissioner (Part-time)	Dr. Hilary A Delaney, B.L.	Senior Lecture in Law, TCD	15 April 1997. Reappointed 15 April, 2002
Commissioner (Part-time)	Professor Finbarr McAuley, B.C.L., LLB, MPhil, LLD,	Jean Monnet Professor of European Criminal Justice, UCD	1 September 1999. Reappointed 1 September 2004
Commissioner (Part-Time)	Marian Shanley	Solicitor	Appointed 13 November 2001. Reappointed 12 November 2004
Senior Counsel (Part-Time)	Donal O’Donnell	Senior Counsel	28 June 2005 (replaced Dr. Hilary A. Delaney, BL)

List of appointments to the National Statistics Board since 1997

National Statistics Board
	Professor Frances Ruane	Trinity College, Dublin	July 1999 Aug 2001
	Mr. David Doyle	Department of Finance	January 1998
	Mr. Dermot McCarthy	Department of the Taoiseach	July 1999
	Mr. Cathal O’Loghlin	Department of Finance	Jan 1999 July 1999 Aug 2001
	Mr. Frank Cunneen	Health and Safety Authority	July 1999 Aug 2001 Feb 2004
	Mr. Ciaran Dolan	ICMSA	July 1999 Aug 2001Feb 2004
	Ms Paula Carey	ICTU	July 1999 Aug 2001 Feb 2004
	Mr. Steve Couldwell	Smith and Nephew	Jan 1998
	Ms Marian Harkin	Teacher	July 1999 Aug 2001
	Ms Mary Doyle	Department of the Taoiseach	Jan 2001 Aug 2001 Feb 2004
	Ms Helen NicFhlannchadha	Teacher	March 2002
	Professor Brendan Walsh	University College Dublin	Feb 2004
	Dr. Pat O’Hara	Western Development Commission	Feb 2004
	Mr. Derek Moran	Department of Finance	July 2003 Feb 2004
	Mr. Paul Sweeney	ICTU	Oct 2006

Membership of the Information Society Commission

Membership	Organisation	Date of Appointment
Ms Vivienne Jupp (Chairman)	Andersen Consulting	May 1997
Ms Selina Bonnie	Communications Consultant	May 1997
Ms Paula Carey	ICTU	May 1997
Mr. Donal Connell	3COM	May 1997
Mr. Seán Corkery	Esat Telecom	May 1997
Dr. Eamonn G. Hall	Telecom Éireann	May 1997
Mr. Paul Kavanagh	Businessman	May 1997
Mr. Dermot McCarthy	Department of the Taoiseach	May 1997
Mr. Eugene Murray	RTE	May 1997
Mr. Séamus Ó Canainn	Blackrock Education Centre	May 1997

Footnote: The Information Society Commission was established by the Government in May 1997, in response to the report of Ireland's Information Society Steering Committee: Information Society Ireland: Strategy for Action.

The Commission was an advisory body whose main function was to monitor and advise Government on the development of an Information Society in Ireland. One of the most important of the Commission's tasks was to raise awareness among the public and industry of the opportunities and benefits offered by the Information Society.

The first Information Society Commission ran until November 2001.

Second Information Society Commission

Membership	Organisation	Date of Appointment
Danny O’Hare (Chairman)	Former President of DCU (Dublin City University)	November 2001
Claire Cunningham	Director, Aura Internet Services Ltd	November 2001
Dr. Chris Coughlan	Hewlett Packard	November 2001
Michael Byrne	CEO, Ennis Information Age Services	November 2001
Jerry Shanahan	ICTU/Amicus	November 2001
Karen Hynes	Manager of E-Business Services, Chambers of Commerce of Ireland	November 2001
Colm Reilly	PA Consulting	November 2001
Inez Bailey	Director, National Adult Literacy Agency	November 2001
Dr. Eamonn Conway	Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Mary Immaculate College, UL (University of Limerick)	November 2001
Robert Johnston	JLS Software Solutions	November 2001
Clodagh O’Donnell	Client Executive, Financial Services Sector, IBM	November 2001
Dee Cari	Torque Management	November 2001
Marion O’Neill	Manager, Kilkenny Information Age Town	November 2001
Dr. Patricia O’Hara	Manager, Policy Division, Western Development Commission	November 2001
Christopher Took	Web Developer (resigned September 2002)	November 2001
Charles Stanley-Smith	Chief Technical Officer, Piercom	November 2001
Brian Lennon	Guidance Counsellor, St Oliver’s College, Drogheda	November 2001
Donal Toolan	Forum of People with Disabilities	November 2001
Kathryn Raleigh	Director of the Irish Software Association, IBEC	November 2001
Joe Horan	County Manager, South Dublin County Council	November 2001
Peter Ryan	Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach	November 2001

Footnote: The second Information Society Commission ran until 31 December 2004.

The following appointments were made by the Government to the Board of Digital Media Development Limited in April 2000:

Paddy Teahon	Executive Chairman
Dan Flinter	Enterprise Ireland
Don Thirnhill	HEA
John Fitzgerald	Dublin City Manager
Paul Kavanagh	Businessman
Paul McGuinness	Principle Management Ltd
Peter Cassells	ICTU
Jackie Harrison	IBEC

Footnote: MediaLab Europe was established by the Government and MIT with effect from May 2000. Although established as a private company, the board was appointed by MIT and the Government. MIT appointed three board members, the Government appointed three and three were appointed jointly. The Government appointments were Danny O'Hare, ex-DCU, Ann Riordan, ex-Microsoft, and Denis O'Brien, Esat. The joint appointees were Gerhard Schulmeyer, Siemens, Red Burns, New York University, and Bono, U2.

Responsibility for both Digital Media Development Limited and MediaLab Europe transferred to the Department of Public Enterprise in May 2001.

The board of Campus and Stadium Ireland Development, CSID, was appointed on 29 March 2000. The members were as follows:


Paddy Teahon	Executive Chairman (former Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach)
William Attley	Former General Secretary, SIPTU
Mary Davis	(former Chief Executive of Special Olympics World Games, now CEO of Special Olympics Ireland)
Seán Donnelly	Civil Engineer
Lucy Gaffney	Company Director
Tom Kiernan	Chartered Accountant
John Mulcahy	Director, Jones Lang LaSalle
Liam Ó Maolmhichil	Director General, GAA
John Power	Solicitor
John Treacy	CEO, Irish Sports Council
Michael Walsh	Company Director

Footnote: In January 2001, the responsibility for Campus and Stadium Ireland Development transferred to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

Mr. Kenny

I draw the Taoiseach's attention to part of the code of conduct for officeholders that deals with appointments. The Taoiseach will be familiar with paragraph 2.2.7, which reads as follows:

Subject to provisions in legislation or other formal requirements for the establishment of Government bodies or the filling of positions, appointments by members of the Government should be made on the basis of merit, taking into account the skills, qualifications and experience of the person to be appointed, as well as any other relevant criteria, including, for example, requirements in relation to gender balance.

In a recent very famous broadcast, the Taoiseach said that he made appointments to State boards on the basis that the nominees were friends. Does the appointment of persons to State boards on the basis of their being friends accord with the code of conduct with which officeholders are expected to comply? Perhaps the Taoiseach will comment on that.

The Taoiseach

Appointments to boards are made on the basis of the knowledge, expertise and experience that an individual can bring to such boards' work. In many cases, appointment is on the basis of nomination by relevant groups, such as the social partners, and the individuals involved agree to serve out of a sense of public duty rather than any monetary consideration. Appointment of the limited number of people whom I consider friends was also based on that criterion, namely, that they had the necessary knowledge, expertise and experience. More than anything else, they were prepared to give up their valuable time to serve on boards. They are not there because they are friends in the sense that they lack the knowledge, expertise and experience.

Mr. Kenny

I have a supplementary question. Does that mean that the Taoiseach's comment that he made appointments on the basis of persons being friends was not true and that the reality was that they were persons known to him who had the requisite knowledge and experience? Did he mean it that way? Was it a matter of knowledge and experience as distinct from friendship? I take his point about people giving of their valuable time to serve on boards, which is obviously always a difficulty. However, I wish to be clear regarding paragraph 2.2.7 in that the Taoiseach now says that appointments made by him were not made on the sole basis that people were friends but rather on the basis of knowledge and experience.

The Taoiseach

I have many friends who, with the greatest respect, lack the knowledge, expertise and experience to serve on boards. The number of those people whom one would appoint is limited, and there is none in my Department because I would not have people involved in certain technical areas such as statistics. However, there are people whom I consider friends with knowledge, experience and expertise and whom I trust, believing that they would give the necessary time and commitment to the task, and those people I would appoint. If I did not believe that they had that expertise or the patriotic sense of being able to give fulsomely of their time, I would not appoint them.

Mr. McGinley

What about neighbours?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

In the Taoiseach's response, he commented on appointments to State boards and so on under the aegis of his Department. Did he make representations to other Ministers to have "friends" appointed to other State boards, for instance, Mr. Des Richardson to the board of Aer Lingus?

An Ceann Comhairle

This question refers specifically to appointments under the Taoiseach's aegis.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

My question certainly concerns appointments to State boards. I ask the Taoiseach whether he made representations, which is his prerogative to answer. That is the question to which I want an answer.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Taoiseach should answer regarding appointments under his aegis only.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I want to know does that apply in the cases of Mr. Richardson and Mr. Joe Burke, who is listed as chairman of the Dublin Port Company.

Mr. David McKenna was appointed to the board of Enterprise Ireland. The Taoiseach should be upfront and advise us of the facts with regard to all of these appointments.

An Ceann Comhairle

I draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that his question refers to the Taoiseach's own appointments.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

On many occasions I have confronted the Taoiseach with regard to the practices he employed — those we knew of then as opposed to those practices we know of now — with regard to appointments to State boards and other such quangos. Will the Taoiseach, in the light of all we now know, agree that the best approach for such appointments in the future is by open public advertisement? The country is awash with talent and good people who share many of the high qualities and motivation about which the Taoiseach has spoken, but they are not known to him and are not his friends. They have every right to be considered for such public service. Is this not the right time to change the flawed practices of the past and open up these appointment opportunities to every citizen and to make the appointments on merit alone?

The Taoiseach

Any people I appointed or nominated to a State board when another Minister was making an appointment were people I believed to have the knowledge, expertise and experience required. I put forward names of many people of all party political persuasions and of none whom I believed had the required knowledge, expertise and experience.

I do not agree with the Deputy with regard to advertising positions. People serving on State boards are people who are prepared to give their time, energy and commitment to the job. The position has become more burdensome and demanding due to regulatory issues and company law changes over the years and fewer people are prepared to take it on. The current system works well rather than advertising the positions. There is a more limited pool now because of the extent and range of people on boards. We have to pick people and I see nothing wrong with the current system. Many people across State boards appointed by this and previous Governments are not party political. They are there because of the role they play and their involvement in organisations in the State. I do not see anything wrong with that system. It has served the country well.

I resent these organisations being called quangos. If they are quangos, they should not be there. The organisations are there because of statutes and legislation of the House. I see nothing wrong with the system.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

That is the problem.

Mr. Sargent

Following his declared procedure of appointing people to State boards, does the Taoiseach appreciate how that could malign many competent, talented and experienced members of State boards who may feel they were appointed on the basis of a friendship rather than merit? Does it not behove the Taoiseach to set out clearly the need for a new procedure, just as he has acknowledged we need change in our ethical legislation? We need an acknowledgment that, in the past, there have been too many close personal and political connections and we need to make it clear that appointments are based on merit alone. Is it not the case that groups that have not been allowed representation on boards like the National Consumer Agency, for example, consumer groups and older persons representative groups, may feel aggrieved that somehow they were not friendly enough to warrant appointment? We do not have a level playing pitch currently and that needs to be addressed.

We know from experience that many appointments have been made before an election, right up to election day. Some 60 appointments were made by various Ministers before the last general election — just before leaving office — including by Deputies O'Donoghue, Dermot Ahern, Noel Dempsey, O'Rourke and Fahey. Will the procedures in the Taoiseach's Department and those he proposes to lay down for Government avoid and prevent this type of board stuffing that takes place before elections? Can he explain why it happened and will it happen in the future?

Mr. McGinley

It happens after elections also.

An Ceann Comhairle

I point out to the Deputy that the question refers specifically to the Taoiseach's Department.

Mr. Sargent

I tried hard to stay in order.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy did not.

The Taoiseach

I will not try to get into the business of what happens before or after elections in this regard because it would lead to us trading abuse across the House.

There are a few hundred people on boards related to my Department. I probably know most of them, but none of them are close friends. They are there because they had the right to be nominated. All of them are consumers.

Mr. Sargent

We are all consumers, but we are not all on the National Consumer Agency board.

The Taoiseach

With regard to boards generally, not just recently, but for a long time the position has been that Governments have had to try hard to get people for them. These people are from organisations and professions and are known. The Government has not been partisan about appointing boards and packing them with supporters as can be seen if one looks at the range of people on the various boards. Many of the chairmen of State boards are not affiliated to Fianna Fáil or the Progressive Democrats, but they do a good job. Even throughout the clearing house groups in my Department and the financial services group, I do not have a notion of people's politics. I would only know the party political affiliations of a small proportion of people. Nowadays, we must comply with employment regulations. This situation has come about over a long number of years.

Mr. McGinley

The Taoiseach is an innocent abroad. If we believe that, we would believe anything.

An Ceann Comhairle

Allow the Taoiseach to speak without interruption.

The Taoiseach

I believe it. I could name a number of chairmen of State boards who support Deputy McGinley's party, but that is not the point. Board members are doing a good job as best they can. The days of just naming people and getting them to take positions on State boards are no longer easy.

Mr. McGinley

The Taoiseach's backbenchers would know appointees' politics.

Mr. Kehoe

The dogs on the street would know their political affiliations.

Mr. Rabbitte

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about paragraph 24 of the code which states that if an office holder, the first office holder, or a person acting on his or her behalf proposes to make a request to a second office holder with regard to the performance of a function by the second office holder and the first office holder has actual knowledge that he or she or a connected person has a material interest in a matter to which the function relates, the first office holder must furnish a statement in writing of the facts and the nature of the interest to the second office holder. The statement should be furnished before or at the time of making the request and the statement provided to the second office holder must be provided by that second office holder to the Taoiseach and-or the standards commission in accordance with the procedure outlined.

In respect of representations the Taoiseach made to other Ministers to appoint a number of members of the Drumcondra dozen, did he make that material interest known and did he make the required written statement?

The Taoiseach

Anyone I asked any Minister to appoint, a limited number over the past decade or during my ministerial career, would not have had any material interest in the appointment. They took the position from a sense of duty and responsibility, not because of a material interest. I would not make a board appointment to someone for a material interest.

Mr. Rabbitte

That is not the point. The material interest arises from the fact that the Taoiseach was in receipt of gifts, loans or whatever from a number of persons on behalf of whom he made representations to a colleague Minister to have them appointed to a State board. Under paragraph 24 of the code, the Taoiseach was required to make the statements to which I referred. Did he make them?

The Taoiseach

If no material interest relates to an appointment, that is the governing point. If there was a material interest and a person was appointed for the sake of some beneficial interest to him or her, one would have to declare it. If not, one would not have to make a declaration.

Appointments to State Boards.

Wednesday, 18 October 2006

Ceisteanna (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Enda Kenny

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Trevor Sargent

Pat Rabbitte

Pat Rabbitte

Freagraí ó Béal (36 píosaí cainte)