I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
Since my appointment as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I have not appointed any former Government office holder to any organisation under the remit of my Department .
On foot of motions, both the Dáil and the Seanad approved the appointment by the Government, with effect from 19 December 2007 and for a period of 6 years, of Mr. Michael Smith as ordinary member of the Standards in Public Office Commission, and the Government made the appointment accordingly. Mr. Michael Smith is a former office holder (i.e. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture (1980); Minister for Energy (1988–1989); Minister for the Environment (1992–1994), Minister for Education (1994) and Minister for Defence (1997–2004). The ordinary member's fee is €17,500 pa, plus €372.80 per day for days in excess of 47.
Terms of office: Under the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, an ordinary member of the Standards Commission (a) shall hold office for a term of 6 years and may be re-appointed to that office for a second or subsequent term; (b) shall cease to hold office if he or she (i) is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann; (ii) is nominated for election as a member of either House or to be a representative in the European Parliament, or (iii) is regarded as having been elected to the European Parliament; (c) holds office upon such terms and conditions) as may be determined by the Minister [for Public Expenditure & Reform]; (d) may resign from office by notice in writing given to the Minister; and (e) may be removed from office at any time by the Government but shall not be removed from office except for stated misbehaviour, incapacity or bankruptcy and then only following resolutions passed by each House calling for his or her removal.
