The three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department.
The Social Welfare Tribunal
There are no new appointments to the Social Welfare Tribunal scheduled for the period 14 December 2010 to 28 February 2011. The current members of the Tribunal were appointed on the 5 of October 2009 and are not due for renewal until 4 October 2012.
Citizens Information Board
The Citizens Information Board has one vacancy at present. The name of the appointee has yet to be decided.
The Pensions Board
The current term of office of Pensions Board members is due to expire on 20 December 2010 and I am in the process of appointing new members for a period of 5 years as provided for in legislation. There are 17 members of the Pensions Board including the Chairman. All appointments are made by me, of which 9 are on the nomination of certain bodies.
Section 9 of the Pensions Act 1990 as amended and the First Schedule to the Act, provides that the Board shall consist of a Chairman and 16 ordinary members, who shall be appointed to the Board by the Minister. The term of office of the Chairman and the Board Members shall be for a period not exceeding 5 years.
The Pensions Board is a representative body and while all of its members are appointed by the Minister for Social Protection, the Pensions Act provides that of the 16 ordinary members, the Board must comprise representatives of:
Trade Union Members,
Employers,
Occupational Pension Schemes,
The Actuarial Profession,
The Accounting Profession,
The Legal Profession,
Consumer Interests,
Pensioner Interests,
The Minister for Finance, and
The Minister for Social Protection.
The Minister will, by order, appoint a new Chairman and ordinary members to the Board with effect from 21 December 2010.
Office of the Pensions Ombudsman
There are no appointments due to be made by the Minister in respect of the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman during the period specified.