I propose to take Questions Nos. 720, 721 and 723 to 725, inclusive, together.
EirGrid
The Board of EirGrid has a total of eight members. Seven of the members are appointed by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, under Part 11 (53) of Statutory Instrument 445 of 2000. The Chief Executive is also a member of the Board under Part 11 (51) (1) (b) of Statutory Instrument 445 of 2000.Bord Gáis Eireann
The Board of Bord Gáis Éireann has a total of nine members including the Chief Executive Officer. All the members are appointed by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance under the First Schedule of the Gas Act, 1976 (Section 5), as amended.
Bord na Móna plc
The Board of Bord na Móna has a total of twelve directors. Seven are appointed by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance under Section 18(2) of the Turf Development Act 1998. Four are elected by the employees of Bord na Móna and appointed by the Minister under Section 18(6) in accordance with the provisions of Section 15 of the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Acts 1977 to 1993.
The Managing Director is also a director of the Board and is appointed by the Board under Section 26(3) of the Turf Development Act 1998.
Irish National Petroleum Corporation
Article 82 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Irish National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. provides that the number of Directors (including the Chairman of the Board of Directors) shall be not less than four or more than eleven. The members of the Board include the Chief Executive of the Company, all other members being appointed by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance under Article 83 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
National Oil Reserves Agency
The National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 (the NORA Act) provides that the principal object of the National Oil Reserves Agency (the Agency) is to perform the functions assigned to it by or under the Act, including functions of
(a) maintaining, in accordance with Part 4 of the Act, oil stocks,
(b) providing, on its own initiative or at the request of the Minister, advice, information or guidance to the Minister on any matter relating to the holding of oil stocks,
(c) collecting and recovering the NORA levy,
(d) providing, as the Agency considers appropriate, such consultancy, advisory, technical assistance and contract services (including research and training services) in the State or elsewhere, on any matter relating to the Agency's stockholding functions, and
(e) representing, at the request of the Minister, a Minister of the Government at meetings of international bodies in so far as meetings relate to the holding of oil stocks.
Under Section 14 (1) of the NORA Act 2007 the NORA board of directors is to consist of not more than five directors, including the Chief Executive who, by virtue of that office, is also a director. All other members are appointed by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
Prior to the establishment of NORA as a stand alone body under the NORA Act 2007, the directors of NORA were appointed by the Irish National Petroleum Corporation of which the Agency was a subsidiary company. All future appointments to the NORA board will be made by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance, in accordance with the NORA Act 2007.