Departmental Bodies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2012

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Ceisteanna (349, 350)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

396 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a breakdown of the number of appointments that have been made to State boards by him since he came to office including the names of the appointees and the boards they have been appointed to; the number of these appointments that have been made using new procedures involving the advertising of such posts on his Department’s websites and the interview of the chairperson of boards by Oireachtas committee; if he will highlight situations where this process has not occurred; and the reason it has not occurred in each case. [5038/12]

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

397 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of retired public servants that have been rehired by him, or rehired by State agencies under his aegis. [5063/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jimmy Deenihan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 397 together.

The information sought by the Deputy concerning appointments to State boards in the bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group is set out in the following table. In relation to the re-hiring of retired public servants, in common with other Government Departments, my Department does, from time to time, engage the assistance of retired staff on a consultancy basis where particular expertise or experience in Civil and Public Service procedures is required in relation to a particular matter. In this regard, my Department has engaged two former senior officials to carry out specific pieces of work. With regard to the bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group, Údarás na Gaeltachta have retained the services of one former official, Foras na Gaeilge have re-hired three staff members to carry out specific specialised work and the Ulster-Scots Agency have re-hired two public servants.

Name of Body	Appointments to the board since 9th March 2011	Appointments made using new procedures	Reason procedures were not adhered to
National Gallery of Ireland	Fred Krehbiel	No	This appointment was in hands prior to the Government decision on the appointment of State Board members.
National Concert Hall	Kieran Tobin (Chair)	Yes	N/A
	Dearbhla Collins
	John McGrane
	Laurie Cearr
	Gina Menzies
	Bruce Arnold
	Margaret Ryan
	Ray Bates
	Alma Hynes
	Artemis Kent
	Deborah Kelleher
	Peter McEvoy
	Pat Heneghan
	Rachel Holstead
	Patricia Slavin
Chester Beatty Library	Patricia Donlon	Yes	N/A
Crawford Art Gallery	John Bowen (Chair)	No	N/A — as all were reappointments.
	Sheila Maguire
	Noel O’Keefe
	Úna Feely
	Jim Corr
	Tim Brosnan
	Tim Lucey
Arts Council	Eimear O’Connor	Yes	N/A
	Ciaran Walsh
	Mark O’Regan
	John Fanning
Foras na Gaeilge	Liam Ó Maolmhichíl (Chair)	N/A	Foras na Gaeilge is an agency of the North South Language Body. The appointments were made by the North South Ministerial Council, on the basis of 50:50 nominations from each jurisdiction.
	Eoghan MacCormaic
	Pol Callaghan
	Colm Cavanagh
	Áine Ní Chiaráin
	Bríd Ní Chonghoile
	Liam Kennedy
	Seosamh Mac Donnchadha
	Tomás Mac Eochagáin
	Marcus MacRuairi
	Seán Mícheal Ó Dómhnaill
	Dónal Ó hAiniféin
	Therese Ruane
	Tomás Sharkey
	Cáitríona Ní Shúilleabháin
Ulster-Scots Agency	Tom Scott (Chair)	N/A	This is an agency of the North South Language Body. The appointments were made by the North South Ministerial Council, on the basis of 50:50 nominations from each jurisdiction.
	William Leatham
	Hilary Singleton
	Trevor Wilson
	Tony Crooks
	Val O’Kelly
	Ida Fisher
	Sharon Tracey-Dunne
Heritage Council	Ciara Breathnach	Yes	N/A
Heritage Council	Ted Creedon
	Catherine Heaney
	Fidelma Mullane
	Michael Parsons	Yes	N/A
	Kieran O’Conor