Since my appointment on 9 March 2011, I have appointed 56 people to State boards without advertising the positions through the Department's website.
From January of this year, following on from Government Decision S180/20/10//1424 on 29th November 2011, relating to appointments to State Boards, my Department has advertised for expressions of interest for vacancies on the Boards of the VHI, Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, Mental Health Commission, Health and Information Quality Authority and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland through the Departments' website. I have made three appointments to the Voluntary Health Insurance Board with effect from 15 March 2012. The appointments followed advertising for persons with relevant qualifications and experience to make an expression of interest in appointment to the Board and the appointees were among those who made such an expression of interest. Further appointments are pending.