Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2012
169 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by her, including any appointments to the position of chairperson shown separately; if the vacancies on the boards were publicly advertised; who out of any appointments made applied through the publicly advertised process, and the prospective nominees that went before the Oireachtas committee for questioning. [13305/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to inform the Deputy that the position in respect of my Department is that four agencies are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), the Family Support Agency (FSA), the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the children detention schools as provided in Part 10 of the Children Act 2001.
In line with the Government Decision of April 2011, on my Department's website I have invited expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the Boards of State Bodies and Agencies operating under the Department's aegis. The notice indicates the vacancies in the boards of the respective bodies. My officials acknowledge all expressions of interest received and maintain a database of those expressions. In making my decisions on appointments to Boards, subject to the governing legislation, I consider the most suitable persons for the positions available with due regard to the body or agency in question and its particular responsibilities and I seek to ensure that the appropriate mix of skills and experience is in place to achieve the best result. In relation to the NEWB, there have been four appointments to the Board since my appointment as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Mr. Brendan Broderick, Mr. Eamonn Flynn, Mr. Ruairí Gogan and Mr. Bob Dowling.
I have made one appointment to the Board of the AAI since my appointment namely Dr. Imelda Ryan. There is no Board for the Ombudsman for Children's Office.
In relation to the FSA, there have been ten members appointed to the Board since my appointment as Minister, namely Sharon Foley, Dick Hickey, Catherine Hazlett , Marie Fenlon, Yvette O'Malley (resigned 10 November, 2011), Liz Chaloner, Nuala Ryan, Imelda Martin, Caroline Murphy and Dr. Nollaig Byrne. Earlier today the Chairperson Designate, MsSharon Foley, appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.
With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the children detention schools as provided in Part 10 of the Children Act 2001. I am in the process of making appointments to the Board of Management of the schools and will announce the full Board when all members have been appointed. The term of the previous Board expired in October 2011 and the vacancies for the current Board are currently listed on my Department's website. Earlier today the Chairperson Designate, Mr. Joe Horan, appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.
I hope to hear from the Chairman of the Committee shortly as to the outcome of these meetings with Ms Foley and Mr. Horan before I proceed with these appointments. The new arrangements introduced by this Government with regard to the availability of designated candidates for interview by Oireachtas Committee will apply as appropriate in the case of Chairpersons of Boards and I can confirm that there have been no situations in my Department where this process has not occurred.
