Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2007
303 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to and including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case. [18826/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraLabour Relations Commission: No appointments were made since 24 May 2007 to date. 6 rights commissioner vacancies exist. Those selected to fill these vacancies have been notified and arrangements regarding their appointments are being finalised. 1 rights commissioner vacancy is anticipated to arise up to and including 1 January 2008. No vacancies exist on the board of the Labour Relations Commission and none are anticipated up to and including 1 January 2008.
Labour Court: Two ordinary members will be appointed to the Labour Court.
Agricultural Joint Labour Committee (JLC) — Six names will be proposed for appointment by the Labour Court to vacancies in the Agricultural JLC.
Employment Appeals Tribunal: An appointment to the Vice-Chairs panel of the Employment Appeals Tribunal was made on 13th June to fill a vacancy arising from the resignation of one of the Vice-Chairs. There is currently one vacancy on the employer's panel of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and I am awaiting a nomination from IBEC to fill this vacancy. No further vacancies on the Employment Appeals Tribunal are anticipated to arise before 1 January, 2008.
Health & Safety Authority: No appointments to the Board of the Health and Safety Authority have been made since 24 May, 2007. No vacancies currently exist on the Board of the Health and Safety Authority. In the period to 1 January, 2008, the Board of the Authority comes up for renewal of its three year term. The Board is appointed by the Minister and consists of 11 ordinary members and a Chairman. Of these 12, the Chairman and 5 persons are appointed directly by the Minister and the balance, 6, are appointed by the Minister on the nominations of organisations representative of employers and employees.
National Competitiveness Council (NCC): The terms of reference of the NCC stipulate that four Members shall retire on May 31st each year. Three existing members were reappointed on 31st May 2007. There is one vacancy on the Council.
Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA): In the period 24 May, 2007 to date, one appointment has been made to the Board of the Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority, viz: the appointment of Mr Brendan Kennedy on the nomination of The Pensions Board, pursuant to Section 11 (2) of the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act, 2003. One vacancy is anticipated to arise in the period up to 1 January, 2008.
IDA Ireland: There have been no appointments to the Board of IDA in the period 24 May to date in 2007. There are no vacancies on the Board of IDA at present. Two members are due to retire from the IDA Board at the end of December 2007.
Enterprise Ireland: The full complement of the Board of Enterprise Ireland is twelve members. Since 24th May 2007 there has been one vacancy on the Enterprise board and a replacement has been appointed with effect from 15th June 2007 leaving no remaining vacancies at the present time on the Board of Enterprise Ireland. Following the next meeting of the EI Board scheduled to take place on 11th July 2007 there will be one vacancy with a possibility of a second to be confirmed up to and including 1st January, 2008.
Three vacancies have arisen on the Crafts Council of Ireland following its AGM, which was held recently on 19th June 2007 and I will review this position shortly. No other vacancies are anticipated to arise on the Crafts Council of Ireland up to and including 1st January 2008.
Shannon Development: No appointments have been made to the Board of Shannon Development since 24 May 2007 to date. No vacancies exist on the Board of Shannon Development at present and none are expected to arise by 1 January 2008.
Forfás: The legislation dictates that the Director General of SFI must be on the board of Forfás. Accordingly the incoming Director General of SFI was appointed to the board of Forfás on taking up appointment on 2nd July 2007. One-fifth of the board of Forfás, effectively two members, retire on 1st January of each year.
FÁS Board: No appointments have been made and no vacancies are anticipated.
InterTrade Ireland: There were no appointments made to the Board of InterTrade Ireland since 24 May, 2007. No southern nominated vacancy exists. I will under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council make six appointments to the board of InterTrade Ireland, the all island trade and business development body no later than 12th December 2007, when the term of the current board expires.
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI): No new appointments have been made to the board of SFI since 24th May 2007. The Director General of SFI is an ex officio member of the SFI board under the Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Act 2003. The new Director General became a member of the board when he took up his position at SFI on 2 July 2007. Under the terms of the Act establishing SFI, each year the two longest serving members of the board resign from their positions. Two members of the board have tendered their resignations effective from 25th July 2007. The question of filling these vacancies will be dealt with when they arise. I do not anticipate that any further vacancies will arise on the board of SFI for the balance of 2007.
National Consumer Agency: Mr. Pat Desmond was appointed a member of the National Consumer Agency effective from the 18th June 2007.
