Appointments to State Boards.

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Question Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

The information sought by the Deputies concerning appointments made by me to State boards and agencies under the aegis of my Department since June 2002 is set out in the following schedule.

The relevant bodies are the National Statistics Board, the Law Reform Commission, the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, the National Economic and Social Council and the National Economic and Social Forum.

The schedule also lists appointments made in respect of the Second Information Society Commission, the term of office of which ended on 31 December 2004.

Boards and Agencies under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach

	Board
1	The National Statistics Board
2	The Law Reform Commission
3	The National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP)
4	The National Economic and Social Council (NESC)
5	The National Economic and Social Forum (NESF)

State Board / Agency: National Statistics Board - National Statistics Board (NSB)

Name	Occupation / Organisation	Date of Appointment
Mr. Frank Cunneen	Health & Safety Authority (IBEC)	February 2004 February 2006
Mr. Ciaran Dolan	ICMSA	February 2004 February 2006
Ms. Paula Carey	ICTU	February 2004
Ms. Mary Doyle	Department of the Taoiseach	February 2004 February 2006 July 2007
Prof. Brendan Walsh	University College Dublin	February 2004 February 2006 July 2007
Dr. Patricia O’Hara	Western Development Commission	February 2004 February 2006 July 2007
Mr. Derek Moran	Department of Finance	July 2003 February 2004 February 2006
Mr. Paul Sweeney	ICTU	October 2006 July 2007
Mr. Danny McCoy	IBEC	July 2007
Mr. Michael J. McGrath	Department of Finance	July 2007
Mr. Con Lucey	IFA	July 2007

State Board / Agency: Law Reform Commission - List of appointments to the Law Reform Commission since 2002

	Name	Occupation	Date of Appointment
President	Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness	Judge of the Supreme Court	22 February 2005
Commissioner (Full-time)	Patricia T. Rickard-Clarke,	Solicitor	15 September 1997 Reappointed 30 September 2004 Reappointed 1 September 2007
Commissioner (Part-time)	Dr. Hilary A Delaney, B.L.	Senior Lecture in Law, TCD	15 April 1997. Reappointed 15 April, 2002 Resigned May 2005
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 Reappointed 1 September 2007
Commissioner (Part-time)	Marian Shanley	Solicitor	13 November 2001 Reappointed 12 November 2004 Reappointed 1 September 2007
Senior Counsel (Part-time)	Donal O’Donnell	Senior Counsel	28 June 2005 (replaced Dr. Hilary A. Delaney, BL) Reappointed 1 September 2007

State Board / Agency: National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP)

	Name	Occupation / Organisation	Date ofAppointment
Executive Chairperson	Mr. Peter Cassells		October 2001-April 2004 reappointed: 7 November 2005
Government Departments	Mr. Philip Kelly, Asst. Secretary Deputy Chairperson	Dept. of the Taoiseach	October 2001 reappointed: 24 January 2006
	Mr. Ciaran Connolly, Asst Secretary	Dept. of Finance	October 2001 reappointed: 24 January 2006
	Mr. John Walsh, Asst. Secretary	Dept. of Enterprise, Trade& Employment	June 2002 — (replaced Mr. Maurice Cashell) Reappointed: 24 January 2006
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. Gavin Marie	IBEC	replaced Mr. Liam Doherty in April 2007
	Mr. Eddie Keenan	CIF	24 January 2006
	Ms. Irene Canavan	Arnotts	24 January 2006
	Mr. Morgan Nolan	Industrial Relations,CIF	Jan 2004 — (replaced Terry McEvoy)
Trade Unions	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. 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)
	Mr. Sean Heading, Education & Training Services Trust has been nominated by ICTU as an alternate
Independent Members	Prof. Joyce O’Connor	National College of Ireland	24 January 2006
	Ms. Dorothy Butler Scally	Human Resources Consultant	24 January 2006
	Dr. Catherine Kavanagh	UCC	24 January 2006

State Board / Agency: National Economic and Social Council (NESC)

	Name	Occupation / Organisation	Dates of Membership
Chairperson	Mr. Dermot McCarthy	Secretary General, Dept. of the Taoiseach	September 2003 June 2007
Deputy Chair	Ms. Mary Doyle	Assistant Secretary, Dept. of the Taoiseach	September 2003 June 2007
Trade Union Pillar
	Mr. David Begg	General Secretary, ICTU	September 2003 June 2007
	Mr. Peter McLoone	General Secretary, IMPACT	September 2003 June 2007
	Mr. Manus O’Riordan	Economist, SIPTU	September 2003 June 2007
	Ms. Joan Carmichael	Assistant General Secretary, ICTU	September 2003
	Ms. Sally Anne Kinahan (replaced Joan Carmichael)	Assistant General Secretary, ICTU	January 2004 June 2007
	Mr. Jack O’Connor	Vice President, SIPTU	September 2003 June 2007
Business and Employer or Organisation Pillar
	Mr. Turlough O’Sullivan	Director General, IBEC	June 2007
	Ms. Aileen O’Donoghue	Director, Financial Services Ireland	September 2003 June 2007
	Mr. Brian Geoghegan	Director, IBEC	September 2003
	Mr. Danny McCoy(replaced Brian Geoghegan)	Director of Policy, IBEC	October 2005 June 2007
	Mr. John Dunne	Chief Executive,Chambers of Commerce Ireland	September 2003 June 2007
	Mr. Liam Kelleher	Director General, Construction Industry Federation	September 2003 June 2007
Agricultural and Farming Organisation Pillar
	Mr. Seamus O’Donoghue	Secretary, ICOS	September 2003 June 2007
	Mr. Ciaran Dolan	General Secretary, ICMSA	September 2003 June 2007
	Mr. Michael Berkery	General Secretary, IFA	September 2003 June 2007
	Mr. Eddie Punch	General Secretary, ICSA	June 2007
	Mr. Damien McDonald	Chief Executive, Macra na Féirme	September 2003
	Mr. Colm Markey	National President, Macra na Féirme	June 2007
Community and Voluntary Pillar
	Fr. Sean Healy	Head of Justice Office, CORI	September 2003 June 2007
	Mr. Donall Geoghegan	Programme Manager, National Youth Council	September 2002 September 2003
	Mr. John Dolan	Chief Executive, Disability Federation of Ireland	September 2003 June 2007
	Ms. Deirdre Garvey	Chief Executive, the Wheel	September 2003
	John Mark McCafferty	Policy Officer, Saint Vincent de Paul	September 2003
	Mr. Séamus Boland	Chief Executive,Irish Rural Link	June 2007
	Ms. Brid O’Brien	Senior Policy Officer, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed	June 2007
	Ms. Camille Loftus	Community Platform	June 2007
Government Department Nominees
	Secretary General	Dept. of Finance	September 2003 June 2007
	Secretary General	Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Employment	September 2003 June 2007
	Secretary General	Dept. of Social and Family Affairs	September 2003 June 2007
	Secretary General	Dept. of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources	September 2003
	Secretary General	Dept. of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government	September 2003 June 2007
	Secretary General	Dept. of Education and Science	June 2007
Independent Nominee
	Prof. John Fitzgerald	Senior Research Officer, ESRI	September 2003
	Prof. Eithne McLaughlin	Dept. of Social Policy, Queens University, Belfast	September 2003
	Mr. Colin Hunt	Head of Research, Goodbody Stockbrokers	September 2003
	Dr. Peter Bacon	Economic Consultant	September 2003
	Prof. Brigid Laffan	Department of Politics, UCD	September 2003
	Dr. Sean Barrett (replaced Colin Hunt)	Department of Economics, Trinity College	January 2005 June 2007
	Mr. Con Lucey	Economist,IFA	June 2007
	Prof. Peter Clinch	UCD	June 2007
	Prof. Elizabeth Meehan	Queen’s University	June 2007

Terms of Office of NESC relevant to this PQ

(a) 1998 – 2001 (extended to 2002)

(b) 2003 – 2006

State Board / Agency: National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) - Full Membership 2004

	Name	Occupation / Organisation	Date of Appointment
Independent Chairperson	Maureen Gaffney		Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
Deputy Chairperson	Mary Doyle	Asst. Sec., Dept. of the Taoiseach	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
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	January/February 2004
	Maria Cronin	IBEC	October/November 2004 (replaced Jackie Harrison)
	Tony Donohue	IBEC	September 2006 (replaced Maria Cronin) May 2007
	Heidi Lougheed	IBEC	January/February 2004 May 2007
	Patricia Callan	Small Firms Association	January/February 2004 May 2007
	Kevin Gilna	Construction Industry Federation	January/February 2004
	Dr. Peter Stafford	Construction Industry Federation	replace Kevin Gilna Oct 05 May 2007
	Robert O’ Shea	Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Industry/Exporters Association	January/February 2004
	Sean Murphy	Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Industry/Exporters Association	replaced Robert O’ Shea Aug 05 May 2007
Trade Unions	Eamon Devoy	Technical Engineering & Electrical Union	January/February 2004 May 2007
	Blair Horan	Civil & Public Service Union	January/February 2004 May 2007
	Jerry Shanahan	AMICUS	January/February 2004 May 2007
	Manus O’Riordan	SIPTU	January/February 2004 May 2007
	Paula Carey	ICTU	January/February 2004
	Esther Lynch	ICTU	Sept 2006 (Replaced Paula Carey) May 2007
Agricultural/Farming Organisations	Mary McGreal	Irish Farmers Association	Jan/Feb 2004
	Michael Doody	Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	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) May 2007
	Emer Duffy	Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society	May 2007
	Michael Berkery	General Secretary IFA	May 2007
	Catherine Buckley	Macra na Feirme	May 2007
Strand (iii): Community & Voluntary Sector
Women’s Organisations	Orla O’Connor	National Women’s Council of Ireland	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	Joanna McMinn	National Women’s Council of Ireland	Jan/Feb 2004
Unemployed	June Tinsley	INOU	Jan/Feb 2004
	John Farrell	INOU	replaced June Tinsley Oct 05
	Patricia Short	ICTU Centres for the Unemployed	Jan/Feb 2004
Disadvantaged	Sr. Brigid Reynolds	CORI	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	John-Mark McCafferty	Society of Saint Vincent de Paul	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	Audrey Deane	Society of Saint Vincent de Paul	Nov 2004 (replaced John-Mark McCafferty)
	Sharon Keane	Anti-Poverty Networks	Jan/Feb 2004
	Joe Gallagher	Anti-Poverty Networks	replaced Sharon Keane Sept 05
Youth/Children	Malcolm Byrne	NYCI	Jan/Feb 2004
	Marie Claire McAleer	NYCI	replaced Malcolm Byrne Sept 04
	Raymond Dooley	Children’s Rights Alliance	Jan/Feb 2004
	Jillian Ban Turnhout	Children’s Rights Alliance	replaced Raymond Dooley Aug 05 May 2007
Older People	Robin Webster	National Council for Ageing and Older People/Senior Citizen’s Parliament/Age Action	Jan/Feb 2004
Others	Frank Goodwin	The Carers Association	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	Seamus Boland	Irish Rural Link	Jan/Feb 2004May 2007
	Fergus O’Ferrall	The Wheel	Jan/Feb 2004
	Ivan Cooper	The Wheel	May 2007
	Brid O’ Brien	Pavee Point	Jan/Feb 2004
	Aisling Walsh	Disability Federation of Ireland	Jan/Feb 2004
	Joanne McCarthy	Disability Federation of Ireland	replaced Aisling Walsh in 2006 May 2007
	Michael O’Halloran	Chief Executive Officer Irish Senior Citizens Parliament	May 2007
	Marie Claire McAleer	National Youth Council of Ireland	May 2007
	Karen Murphy	Irish Council for Social Housing Head of Services	May 2007
	Frances Byrne	OPEN	May 2007
	Kathleen McCann	Congress Centres Network	May 2007
	Stavros Stavrou	Integrating Ireland	May 2007
	Maria Joyce	National Traveller Womens Forum	May 2007
Strand (iv): Central Government, Local Government and Independents
Central Government	Secretary General	Dept. Finance	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	Secretary General	Dept. Enterprise, Trade & Employment	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	Secretary General	Dept. Social & Family Affairs	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	Secretary General	Dept. Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	Secretary General	Dept. Environment, Heritage & Local Government	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
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) May 2007
	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 May 2007
	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)
	Councillor Mattie Ryan	Association of County and City Councils	May 2007
	Councillor Paddy O’ Callaghan	Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland	May 2007
	Councillor William Ireland	Local Authorities Members Association	May 2007
Independents	Dr Colm Harmon	Institute for the Study of Social Change, UCD	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	Dr Mary P. Corcoran	Department of Sociology	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	Dr Brian Nolan	ESRI	Jan/Feb 2004
	Paul Tansey	Tansey, Webster, Stewart & Company Ltd.	Jan/Feb 2004
	Cait Keane	South Dublin County Council	Jan/Feb 2004 May 2007
	Marie Carroll	Southside Partnership	May 2007
	Professor Rose Ann Kenny	TCD	May 2007

Deputy Enda Kenny

The Taoiseach said recently that membership of Fianna Fáil does not disqualify persons from being appointed to State boards. Was Mr. Joseph Burke re-appointed to the chairmanship of Dublin Port on the basis of his friendship with the Taoiseach or on the basis of merit and experience? His company specialised in refurbishing public houses and employed 16 people in north Dublin. The High Court was told the building company had substantial debts. It is no fault of anyone that a business venture fails. Was his re-appointment made on the basis of merit or because he was a friend of the Taoiseach?

The Taoiseach

Mr. Burke, as a member and chairman of the board for many years, has carried out a hugely successful reform of the port company and is recognised as having done so across all political persuasions. His appointment is made on the basis of the knowledge, expertise and experience he brings to the job. These are the qualities a person should bring to a board. There are many Fine Gael and Labour Party people on boards. Most of the people I have appointed in my Department have a political orientation but are not from my party. They are all appointed on the same criteria. Mr. Burke's appointment was made on the basis of his knowledge and expertise. The improvements in the industrial relations situation and productivity in the company and the changes he has made over many years stand up to scrutiny by anyone.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

What is the position regarding Oireachtas membership of the National Economic and Social Forum? Have changes been made or are changes intended in line with the recent general election result? The technical group was represented by the former Deputy Jerry Cowley, who was not re-elected to the Dáil, and the Progressive Democrats representative was the late Senator Kate Walsh.

What is the method of selection? Is it made on a ratio basis?

Have the NESF vacancies been addressed since the general election result?

The Taoiseach

Changes will have to be made in respect of membership of the NESF to reflect current Oireachtas representation. As I understand it, that is happening or is about to happen. It was agreed earlier this year that the existing 15 Oireachtas nominees to NESF would be reappointed pending the general election following which the position would be revisited. I understand the Whip's office will shortly be in touch with the parties to seek fresh nominations for the Oireachtas strand. It must be changed based on current Oireachtas representation.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

The Taoiseach said that membership of the NESF must change and that changes are pending. Is he directly involved in deciding who will fill the vacancies? The Taoiseach indicated that representatives from Fine Gael and the Labour Party will be on boards. Is he willing to consider the appointment of a Sinn Féin representative to the board of NESF as reconstituted following the general election result? There are vacancies on that board. What methodology is used in the selection of appointees? Does the Taoiseach take a direct hand in the selection and, if so, when does he expect to address this matter?

The Taoiseach

The formula used is based on party representation in the House. Fifteen Members of the House are appointed to the board and it is a straight mathematical division. I have not worked out the new formula though I have included the old one in the reply. I will examine with the Whip's office what this means for Sinn Féin.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I suppose if it is based on a formula of numbers — the Taoiseach is a man of great skill with numbers and accountancy — that suggests that perhaps we would not have automatic entitlement to one of the 15 positions. Perhaps the Taoiseach will be good enough to consider the contribution we could make.

The Taoiseach

I will consider that. To the best of my knowledge, the Technical Group was represented on the previous board, as were the Progressive Democrats and the Independents. I will look at the formula.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

What changes, if any, have been made since the reformation of the Fianna Fáil Government, with the participation on this occasion of the Green Party, following the general election? Is it the case, as the Taoiseach previously stated publicly, that those selected by him for appointment to boards are his friends? Has there been any move towards the method proposed in March by the Green Party in its Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007, which called for an independent and transparent method of appointments to State boards? I have read the programme for Government and cannot find reference therein to any change in the method by which appointments will be made to State boards. Will the Taoiseach say if there has been any change in the method of appointment to State boards and what concession, if any, has been made in respect of the proposals contained in the Green Party's Bill introduced in the House in March of this year?

The Taoiseach

The Deputy is, of course, misrepresenting my view. I have stated many times that it is no longer easy to get people to serve on State boards, given the commitment required of them, much of the time free gratis and often for very small amounts. Appointments are based on a person's experience, expertise, willingness to serve and commitment to the organisation in which they are involved. Most appointments to organisations that come within the remit of my Department are nominees from the social partners. Appointments to organisations such as the National Statistics Board and the Law Reform Commission are limited to people with particular expertise in these areas.

There are no proposals or procedures in place to establish an independent system to examine or scrutinise appointments. Ministers and Departments try, to the best of their ability, to select the right people for positions. As I stated many times, people are no longer queueing up, as they did in the past, to participate on State boards. The current situation is different, given the legal position, governance arrangements and the commitment required. A limited number of people have the time or the commitment to get involved. That is a fact of life. We continue to manage to obtain suitable people but doing so is not near as easy as it was ten or 20 years ago.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

What understanding exists between the parties in government with regard to the making of appointments to State boards? Is there an arrangement by which the smaller parties in government can make or recommend nominees for appointment to these boards?

The Taoiseach

What normally happens — this has been the case for many years — is that the relevant Department makes a nomination and that is agreed by Government. Legislation in respect of semi-State companies provides that a Minister may make a nomination which is then agreed by Government, and that is what happens. Consideration will be given to a suitable nomination by any member of Government.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

Is there an understanding or agreement in terms of allocations, ratios, proportions and so on between the parties in government with regard to the making of appointments to State boards?

The Taoiseach

No.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

There is no agreement.

The Taoiseach

There is no agreement in respect of allocations, ratios and so on. The Deputy is implying that the bigger party gets X and the smaller party gets Y, but there is no such arrangement.

Deputy Alan Shatter

Will the Taoiseach confirm that neither the Green Party nor the Progressive Democrats will be consulted in advance in respect of appointments by Fianna Fáil Ministers to State boards and that they will have absolutely no say in that matter? Will he tell the House what vacancies currently exist on State boards? Will he also list those vacancies and tell us when it is intended to fill them? Will the Taoiseach clarify the question asked earlier, namely, why he forgot to appoint two directors to Aer Lingus?

The Taoiseach

I do not wish to be unhelpful to Deputy Shatter but I am answering questions in respect of boards which come under the aegis of my Department. The Government makes appointments to State boards as provided for in legislation. There is consultation with Government in respect of nominations by Ministers, but ultimately the decision is made by the Minister. Much depends on what is provided for in the relevant legislation.

Deputy Alan Shatter

The Taoiseach did not respond to my question regarding what vacancies currently exist on State boards. I think the Chief Whip is falling for the Taoiseach.

An Ceann Comhairle

He is falling off the job.

Deputy Alan Shatter

We are anxious not to have a Dublin South constituency accident if by-elections are to be avoided.

Will the Taoiseach list what positions are currently vacant on State boards? In the context of the Taoiseach's expression of concern in respect of the difficulty of finding suitable people to sit on boards because of the governance provisions and the time commitment, does the Government plan to review the remuneration payable to members appointed to State boards?

The Taoiseach

I do not think there is such a proposal, but the Deputy would need to table a question to each Minister in respect of vacancies on State boards that come under the remit of their Departments. I have outlined in my reply the position in respect of my Department.

I have made the point several times that significant issues arise in respect of membership of State boards in terms of time, legal positions and governance arrangements. Most members of State boards are also members of several audit committees and other committees. The situation is unlike it was years ago. Given the volume of legislation enacted in the past 15 years and the practices arising therefrom, it is no longer considered a great plus to be a member of a State board. A limited number of people are prepared to give the time and effort required for State boards. It is for this reason that people of all political persuasions and none are represented on State boards and that is good.

Deputy Alan Shatter

Does the Taoiseach know what positions are currently vacant on State boards?

The Taoiseach

Is the Deputy referring to my Department?

Deputy Alan Shatter

No, on boards in general.

The Taoiseach

I have no idea.

Deputy Alan Shatter

The Taoiseach has no idea what vacancies exist even in his own Department.

The Taoiseach

I know of the situation in my Department; that is the subject of these questions.

Deputy Alan Shatter

Which positions are vacant?

The Taoiseach

The board of the NESF needs to be reappointed.

Deputy Olivia Mitchell

The Taoiseach will be aware of requests from the self-catering industry for representation on the board of Fáilte Ireland. This industry is an important part of the sector but because its members are so dispersed throughout the country they have very little influence or voice while big decisions are being made about the future of that sector. The industry has made its case to the Taoiseach and the line Minister for representation on the board. Will the Taoiseach use his influence to ensure they are represented when the vacancy arises?

The Taoiseach

I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister concerned.

Deputy James Reilly

With respect to the Taoiseach's statement about the difficulties of finding suitable people, will he inform the House whether these positions are advertised and, if not, why not?

The Taoiseach

They are not advertised.

Deputy James Reilly

Why not, if there is a difficulty in finding people?

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

Was there ever a case where a person nominated to a board was found subsequently to be disqualified for any reason and that person's name was withdrawn as a result or was forced to resign from the board as a result of information which the Taoiseach was not aware of when he nominated the person?

The Taoiseach

Is that with regard to my Department?

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

Yes.

The Taoiseach

I cannot recall such a situation.

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

Will the Taoiseach find out this information?

The Taoiseach

I suggest the Deputy puts down a question.

Deputy Seán Barrett

The Taoiseach in his reply mentioned that because of recent legislation it is becoming more difficult to find good people to serve on State boards. Is he suggesting that the legislation should be changed. Surely it is most important to find well qualified, good people to serve on boards and if this is being prevented by something in the legislation does he propose a change in the legislation?

The Taoiseach

No. Issues of governance and the responsibilities and obligations of directors are the same in the private as in the public sector, as the Deputy will be aware. That means that because of the time commitment, people are not prepared to be members of boards unless they can give the time to do the work to the best of their ability and to participate in committees such as audit committees. The duties and responsibilities of board members are demanding. I talk to many of the key people on State boards on a regular basis and many will say that the time commitment is very high. This is evident in boards in many areas, particularly in the key commercial semi-State sector. Members of such boards do not want to be reappointed. They serve their term which they regard as their duty to the State and they then move on. It is a time commitment.

Many boards hold weekly meetings. I referred earlier to the board of Aer Lingus, some members of which are from the United States so they must travel over for meetings. They put in a considerable effort and the same applies for members of other boards. When membership of a sub-committee is taken into account, such people could have to devote as much as one day a week. That is acceptable if a person is not too busy, but it is a significant commitment for an individual who is a member of one of the key commercial State boards.

Appointments to State Boards.

Wednesday, 10 October 2007

Ceisteanna (1, 2, 3)

Enda Kenny

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Eamon Gilmore

Freagraí ó Béal (44 píosaí cainte)