Ministerial Appointments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 January 2011

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

Ceisteanna (322)

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

370 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of appointments he has made to the boards of public bodies in each of the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; if he will name each appointee; the details of the remuneration associated with each position in each year; the expenses claimed by each appointee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2746/11]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley)

A number of different statutory processes are involved in appointments to State boards. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Government or by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In other cases only particular public office holders may be appointed to certain boards. In a number of situations, only some appointments to the body concerned are made by the Minister, or appointments are made with the consent of the Minister for Finance or following consultation with the Minister for Finance or Minister for Education and Skills, as appropriate.

In the context of the above, the following table sets out relevant information in respect of all persons appointed by me to the state boards under the aegis of my Department since my appointment in 2007. Some may have retired from these positions in the interim. Day to day operational matters, including travel and subsistence allowances for meals and so on for officials, board members or directors of the agencies under the aegis of my Department, are a matter for the agency or body concerned and my Department does not routinely collect information in this regard.

The agencies have been reminded of the ongoing requirement to adhere to Department of Finance guidelines concerning travel, subsistence and associated expenses. The Government decision to reduce travel and subsistence rates has been brought to their attention and they were instructed to implement the reduced rates with effect from 5 March 2009. The boards of An Bord Pleanála and the Environmental Protection Agency are executive in nature and the members are full-time salaried positions.

Under the rationalisation of State Agencies the NBA is due to be wound up over the course of 2011. A new Housing Agency, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (established on an administrative basis last year), will require statutory underpinning. The primary legislation establishing that Agency will also facilitate the closure of the NBA. The Board is an interim Board and has been appointed to oversee the parallel tasks of the closure of the NBA and establishing the new Agency. The interim board is made up of 8 members, 4 of whom have been reappointed from the previous NBA Board. The 4 new appointments consist of 2 civil servants, a local authority official and 1 other. The previous NBA Board had 12 members, 9 of whom were paid fees. Under the new arrangements, only 3 appointees are in receipt of fees.

The functions of the Fire Services Council are being undertaken by the Department since the term of office of its members expired on 30 June 2009. It is not intended to reappoint a Council.

Name of State Body/Board	Year of appointment	Names of Person Appointed	Remuneration payable (Salary Comparator/ Annual Fee/Per Diem Fees Current rate unless otherwise stated)
Affordable Homes Partnership	2007	Catherine Gorman	€7,695	The Minister appointed Board members in accordance with The Affordable Homes Partnership Establishment Order 2005. The lifetime of the AHP officially ended at 31 December 2010.
2007	Conn Murray*	Nil
An Bord Pleanála	2007	Thomas O’Connor*	Minimum of Assistant Secretary Scale (Non-Personal Pension Contribution Rate)	Appointed as ordinary member of An Bord Pleanála by the Minister under section 104 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
2010	Margaret Byrne*	2010: €121,208	Appointed as ordinary member of An Bord Pleanála by the Minister under section 106 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Building Regulations Advisory Board				The Minister appoints the Building Regulations Advisory Body (BRAB), under Section 14 of the Building Control Act 1990. While there is no ex-officio category of membership, the practice has been to invite relevant organisations to nominate possible members.
2008	Jay Stuart	2008 €10,500	Chair
		2009 €9,450
		2010 €8,798
		2011 €8,798
2008	Brian McKeon	Nil	Construction Industry Federation
2008	Cian O’Lionáin*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2008	Jack Callanan	Nil	National Disability Authority
2008	Jimmy Keogan*	Nil	Dublin City Council
2008	Mark McAuley	Nil	IBEC
2008	Noel Carroll*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2008	Sean Balfe*	Nil	National Standards Authority of Ireland
2008	Jacqui Donnelly*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2008	Sarah Neary*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2008	Terry Prendergast	Nil	National Consumer Agency
2008	Insp Maria Walsh*	Nil	An Garda Siochana
2008	Edel Collins*	Nil	Office of Public Works
2008	Kevin O’Rourke*	Nil	Sustainable Energy Association Ireland

Name of State Body/Board	Year of appointment	Names of Person Appointed	Remuneration payable (Salary Comparator/ Annual Fee/Per Diem Fees Current rate unless otherwise stated)
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna				An Chomhairle’s members are appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in accordance with the Local Government (An Chomhairle Leabharlanna) Regulations 1997-2007, all but three on the nomination of specified organisations, for a five-year term, as outlined below.
2008	Senator Mark Dearey	2008 €10,500	The Chair of An Chomhairle is appointed by the Minister in consultation with the Minister for Education and Skills.
		2009 €9,450
		2010 €8,978
2008	Councillor Pat McMahon	Nil	Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2008	Councillor Cora Long	Nil	Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2008	Councillor Des Hurley	Nil	Association of County and City Councils
2008	Councillor Michael Abbey	Nil	Local Authority Members Association
2008	Councillor Jim Darcy	Nil	Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland
2008	Deirdre Ellis-King*	Nil	Library Association of Ireland
2008	Ruth Flanagan*	Nil	Library Association of Ireland
2007 2008	Colette O’Flaherty*	Nil	National Library of Ireland
2008	Robin Adams*	Nil	Board of Trinity College, Dublin
2008	Jim Foran*	Nil	Higher Education Authority
2008	Paul Sheehan*	Nil	Higher Education Authority
2008	Gerardine Moloney*	Nil	Higher Education Authority
2010	Councillor Billy Cameron	Nil	Association of County and City Councils
2010	Pat McMahon *	Nil	Library Association of Ireland
2010	Fionnuala Hanrahan*	Nil	Library Association of Ireland

Name of State Body/Board	Year of appointment	Names of Person Appointed	Remuneration payable (Salary Comparator/ Annual Fee/Per Diem Fees Current rate unless otherwise stated)
Comhar Sustainable Development Council				Persons are appointed by the Minister from nominations by bodies under each of the five pillars:
			State/public sector Economic sector
			Economic sector
			Environmental NGOs
			Social/community NGOs
			Professional/academic sector
2009	Shirley Clerkin *	Nil	The Heritage Council
2009	Tom O’Mahony *	Nil	Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2009	Jackie Maguire *	Nil	Office for Local Authority Management
2009	Micheal O’Cinneide *	Nil	Environmental Protection Agency
2009	Dr Clare Penny	Nil	Business in the Community Ireland
2009	Emer Dunne	Nil	Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Assoc.
2009	Ruaidhrí Deasy	Nil	Irish Farmers Association
2009	David Korowicz	Nil	Irish Environmental Network (Feasta)
2009	Frank Corcoran*	Nil	Irish Environmental Network (An Taisce)
2009	Pat Finnegan	Nil	Irish Environmental Network (GRIAN)
2009	Jack O’Sullivan	Nil	Irish Environmental Network (An Taisce)
2009	Fr Sean Healy	Nil	Social Justice Ireland
2009	Niamh Garvey	Nil	D?chas
2009	Elaine Nevin	Nil	National Youth Council of Ireland
2009	Seamus Boland	Nil	Irish Rural Link
2009	Sue Scott*	Nil	Royal Irish Academy
2009	Deirdre McGrath*	Nil	Royal Town Planning Institute
2009	Prof Vincent O’Flaherty*	Nil	Royal Irish Academy
2009	Michael Layde*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2010	Mary Stack*	Nil	Fáilte Ireland
2010	Mairead Cirrillo	Nil	Small Firms Association
2010	Finola McDonnell	Nil	Irish Business and Employers Confederation
2010	Molly Walsh	Nil	Irish Environmental Network (Friends ofthe Earth)
2010	Ann Irwin	Nil	Community Workers Co-op
2010	Prof Ray Bates *	Nil	Royal Irish Academy
2010	Ciaran Byrne *	Nil	Royal Dublin Society
2010	Pat Farrell	Nil	Irish Farmers Association
2010	Dr Matthew Crowe *	Nil	Environmental Protection Agency
2010	John McCarthy*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Name of State Body/Board	Year of appointment	Names of Person Appointed	Remuneration payable (Salary Comparator/ Annual Fee/Per Diem Fees Current rate unless otherwise stated)
Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board	2010	Ciana Campbell, appointed as Co-Chair	€208 per meeting plus €208 per preparation day	Appointed by the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Dublin Docklands Development Authority — Board	2007	Mark Griffin*	Nil	Appointments to the DDDA are made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government under the DDDA Act 1997
2009	Yvonne Farrell	€11,970
2009	Gerry McCaughey	€24,000**
2010	Dr Berna Grist*	€11,970
2010	Prof. Niamh Brennan*	Nil
Dublin Docklands Development Authority — Council				The DDDA Council is appointed under section 16 of the DDDA Act 1997 and nominated by the following:
2008	Deaglain O’ Brian*	Nil	Minister for Community Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs
2009	Maurice Scully	Nil	Bord Gáis Eireann
2009	David Walsh*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2009	Greg Clarke*	Nil	Dublin Chamber of Commerce
2009	Niall Ring	Nil	Dublin City Council
2009	Claire O’Regan*	Nil	Dublin City Council
2009	Ray McAdam*	Nil	Dublin City Council
2010	Anne Graham*	Nil	National Transport Authority
2010	Eamonn O’Reilly*	Nil	Dublin Port Company
Environmental Protection Agency	2008	Larry Stapleton*	Salary Scales	Appointed by the Government under section 24 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992
2008	Micheal O’Cinneide*	Non-PPC (Personal Pension Contribution):
2009	Laura Burke*	€121,208-€138,655
2009	Dara Lynott*	PPC: €127,588-€145,952
2010	Matthew Crowe*

Name of State Body/Board	Year of appointment	Names of Person Appointed	Remuneration payable (Salary Comparator/ Annual Fee/Per Diem Fees Current rate unless otherwise stated)
Fire Services Council	2008	Brendan Mahon*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
The Heritage Council	2008	Conor Newman*	€8,978	Appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in accordance with PART II 5. (5) the Schedule to the Heritage Act 1995
2008	Kealin Ireland	€5,985
2008	Dr Henry Lyons	€5,985
2008	Gráinne Shaffrey	€5,985
2008	Ian Lumley	€5,985
2008	Brian Lucas*	Nil
2010	Helen O’Carroll*	Nil
2010	Professor Gabriel Cooney*	Nil
2010	Dr Brendan Dunford	€5,985
2010	Dr Caro-Lynn Ferris	€5,985
2010	Mary Keenan	€5,985
Housing Finance Agency	2010	John Bolger*	€11,970	Appointed by the Minister under the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981
2008	Philip Nugent*	Nil
Housing and Sustainable Communities Ltd***	2010	Rich Howlin	Nil	Housing and Sustainable Communities Ltd was formed as a Private Single Member company subsidiary of the National Building Agency. This Board is the same Board appointed to the National Building Agency.
2010	Gordon Richards*	Nil
2010	Eddie Lewis*	Nil
2010	John O’Connor*	Nil
2010	Marie McLaughlin*	Nil
2010	Peter Carey*	Nil
2010	John McCloskey	Nil
2010	Ann McGuinness	Nil

Name of State Body/Board	Year of appointment	Names of Person Appointed	Remuneration payable (Salary Comparator/ Annual Fee/Per Diem Fees Current rate unless otherwise stated)
Irish Water Safety	2008	Laurence Kelly*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2009	Dave Corcoran*	Nil
Limerick Northside Regeneration Agency				All nominations to the Boards of the Limerick Regeneration Agencies are made by way of Ministerial Order as set out in SI 275 and SI 276 of 2007 which established the Agencies. These were amended by the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) (Confirmation of Orders) Act 2008. The Orders and Act set out the membership of the Boards.
2007	John Fitzgerald	€8,550	Chairperson
2007	Brendan Kenny*	Nil	CEO of the Agencies
2007	John Laffan*	Nil	Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2007	Kathleen Stack*	Nil	Department of Community Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs
2007	Michelle Shannon*	Nil	Department of Justice & Law Reform
2007	Mary Moloney*	Nil	Department of Social Protection Representative
2007	Tom Mackey*	Nil	Limerick City Manager
2007	Alec Fleming*	Nil	Clare County Manage
2007	Ned Gleeson*	Nil	Limerick County Manager
2007	Willie Keane*	Nil	An Garda Siochána
2007	Anne Cremin	Nil	Community Representative
2007	Paddy Flannery	€5,985	Community Representative
2007	Michael Tiernan	€5,985	Business Community Representative
2007	Pat Fitzgerald*	Nil	HSE
2007	Pat McSitric*	Nil	Department of Education and Skills
2008	Eddie Lewis*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2008	Nuala Kernan	€5,985	Community Representative
2008	Mary Donnelly*	Nil	FAS
2009	Tom Coughlan*	Nil	Clare County Manager
2009	Frank McGlynn*	Nil	Department of Social Protection
2009	Thomas Mahon*	Nil	An Garda Siochána
2009	Mary Tully*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2010	David Sheahan*	Nil	An Garda Siochána
2010	Michael Layde*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Name of State Body/Board	Year of appointment	Names of Person Appointed	Remuneration payable (Salary Comparator/ Annual Fee/Per Diem Fees Current rate unless otherwise stated)
Limerick Southside Regeneration Agency	2007	John Fitzgerald	€8,550	Chairperson
2007	Brendan Kenny*	Nil	CEO of the Agencies
2007	John Laffan*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2007	Kathleen Stack*	Nil	Department of Community Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs
2007	Michelle Shannon*	Nil	Department of Justice & Law Reform
2007	Mary Moloney*	Nil	Department of Social Protection
2007	Tom Mackey*	Nil	Limerick City Manager
2007	Alec Fleming*	Nil	Clare County Manager
2007	Ned Gleeson*	Nil	Limerick County Manager
2007	Willie Keane*	Nil	An Garda Siochána
2007	Fr. Pat Hogan	€5,985	Community Representative
2007	Ann Kavanagh	€5,985	Community Representative
2007	Liam McElligott	€5,985	Business Community Representative
2007	Pat Fitzgerald*	Nil	HSE
2007	Pat McSitric*	Nil	Department of Education and Skills
2008	Eddie Lewis*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2008	Anne Bourke	Nil	Community Representative
2008	Mary Donnelly	Nil	FAS
2009	Tom Coughlan*	Nil	Clare County Manager
2009	Frank McGlynn*	Nil	Department of Social Protection
2009	Thomas Mahon*	Nil	An Garda Siochána
2009	Mary Tully*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2010	David Sheahan*	Nil	An Garda Siochána
2010	Michael Layde*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Name of State Body/Board	Year of appointment	Names of Person Appointed	Remuneration payable (Salary Comparator/ Annual Fee/Per Diem Fees Current rate unless otherwise stated)
Local Government Computer Services Board	2008	Paul McDonald*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2008	*Laurence Kelly
2009	Paul Lemass*
Local Government Management Services Board	2007	Joe Allen*	Nil	Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2008	Martha Doyle*
2008	Paul Lemass*
2010	Barry Quinlan*
	2007	John McCarthy*	Nil
	2011	Rich Howlin	€11,970
	2011	Gordon Richards*	Nil
	2011	Eddie Lewis*	Nil