Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 March 2012
128 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform since the Government was formed the number of vacancies on State boards that have been filled by his Department without advertising the availability of the positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17028/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's question the following are details in respect of appointments made to bodies under the aegis of my Department since March 2011.
An Post National Lottery
In relation to the board of An Post National Lottery Company, I reappointed Mr. Donal Connell as chairman and appointed Mr. Peter Quinn as a director. Both individuals were nominated for appointment by An Post, which is the majority shareholder of the Company. Therefore, the positions concerned were not advertised. The board of An Post National Lottery Company is made up of seven directors, four of whom including the chairman are nominated by An Post and appointed by me as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, with the remaining three being both nominated and appointed by me.
Civil Service Arbitration Board
On 1 July 2011 Mr. Turlough O'Donnell, S.C. (Chair), Mr. Gerard Barry, Mr. Tom Wall, Mr. George Maybury and Mr. Hugh O Flaherty were appointed to the board. The posts were not advertised. The conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Civil Service, the Permanent Defence Forces, the Gardaí and Teachers sets out the nomination process for the Board and its appointment by Government.
Public Appointments Service (PAS)
On 1 September 2011 the following members were appointed to the Board of the Public Appointments Service:
Mr. Eddie Sullivan, Chairman,
Mr. Des Dowling, Assistant Secretary — Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government,
Dr. Deirdre O'Keeffe, Assistant Secretary — Department of Justice and Equality,
Ms Patricia Coleman, Director — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform,
Mr. Seán McGrath — National Director of Human Resources in the Health Service Executive. Mr. McGrath has since resigned from the HSE and the Board. The Minister for Health has been asked for a new nominee.
Ms Judith Eve — former Chairperson the Civil Service Commissioners, Northern Ireland,
Dr. Eddie Molloy — Management Consultant,
Mr. Dan Murphy, former General Secretary of the Public Service Executive Union,
The Chief Executive Officer of the Public Appointments Service holds office on an ex officio basis. Mr. Bryan Andrews has retired from his post as CEO and has been replaced on the Board by the new CEO, Ms Fiona Tierney.
The appointments were not made using the new procedures and the previous Chairman was reappointed to the role on the new board.
The reason for not following the new procedures in relation to board appointments is that the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 states that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (in consultation with Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence) should appoint members of the Board of the Public Appointments Service.
The Board is meant to be representative of its client base i.e. (Government Departments and Public Service Bodies). The majority of the board is therefore civil or public servants, nominated by the relevant Minister. There is also a union representative nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). I reappointed the outgoing Chairman. I approved the appointment of the two external members because of their expertise in strategic change and public service recruitment respectively.
