Appointments to State Boards

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Ceisteanna (123, 143)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

123. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach the total number of board appointments he has made since he came to office; the names, salaries and expenses of each appointee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37364/12]

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

143. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Taoiseach the number of appointments that have been made to positions available on the boards of semi-State companies and statutory agencies following public advertisement; if he will provide details of the names of persons who have been appointed under this initiative and the agencies on which they now sit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40039/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to takes Questions Nos. 123 and 143 together.

Since coming into office on 9 March 2011, I have made appointments to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), as set out in the accompanying tables.

Table 1: NESC Membership Appointments Since 9 March, 2011

Name	Organisation	Date of Appointment	Travel and Subsistence Payments since 9 March 2011
Mr. Martin Fraser, Chairperson of NESC	Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach	August 2011	Nil
Mr. John Shaw, Deputy Chairperson of NESC	Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach	January 2012	Nil
Prof. Edgar Morgenroth	Associate Research Professor, Economic and Social Research Institute	June 2011	Nil
Prof. John McHale	Economist, National University of Ireland, Galway	June 2011	€196.76
Prof. Mary Daly	Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast	June 2011	€174.06
Prof. Anna Davis	Department of Geography, Trinity College Dublin	June 2011	Nil
Prof. Seán Ó Riain	Department of Sociology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth	June 2011	Nil
Dr. Michael O’Sullivan	Head of Portfolio Strategy and Thematic Research, Credit Suisse, London	June 2011	€4,308.28
Ms. Mary Walsh	Chartered Accountant	June 2011	Nil
Dr. Michelle Norris	Senior Lecturer, School of Applied Social Science, University College Dublin.	July 2011	Nil
Mr. Shay Cody	IMPACT	September 2011	Nil
Mr. John Murphy	Secretary General, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation	November 2011	Nil
Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú	Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills	February 2012	Nil
Mr. John Moran	Secretary General, Department of Finance	March 2012	Nil

Table 2: NESDO Board Membership Appointments Since 9 March, 2011

Name	Organisation	Date of Appointment	Travel and Subsistence Payments since 9 March 2011
Mr. Martin Fraser, Chairperson of NESDO	Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach	August 2011	Nil
Mr. John Shaw, Deputy Chairperson of NESDO	Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach	January 2012	Nil

NESDO board members and NESC members do not receive salaries, they are however entitled to claim for travel and subsistence for their attendance at each meeting. Provision for recoupment of any expenses incurred is in line with existing civil service guidelines.

The NESC is an advisory Council which provides guidance to Government on strategic issues for Ireland’s economic and social development. Appointments to the NESC are made in accordance with the provisions of the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 as amended by the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010. I appoint members specifically on the basis of nominations from business and employer interests, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, farming and agricultural interests, the community and voluntary sector and the environmental sector. It would not be appropriate to advertise these positions as they are nominated in a representative capacity.

I may also appoint up to six public servants of whom at least one shall represent the Taoiseach and one shall represent the Minister for Finance. Historically, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson posts are filled from my Department at Secretary General and Assistant Secretary level. These appointments represent relevant Departments to ensure the Council's work is integrated with Government policy-making and would not be suitable for public advertisement.

Finally, I appointed a number of independents in June and July last year. The independent nominations to NESC were not advertised last year, as I was satisfied with the skill sets and expertise of the nominees which had already been identified, mainly from the academic sector. However it may be appropriate to advertise the positions in the future. I am satisfied that these appointments were appropriate, bearing in mind the key strategic role of the NESC.

In relation to the NESDO, Section 13 of the 2006 Act provides that the Office comprises the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the constituent bodies, now only the NESC.

There has been one appointment to the National Statistics Board (NSB) since I took office. Mr. John Callinan, an Assistant Secretary at my Department, was appointed to the NSB in line with the provisions of Section 18 (1)(b) of the Statistics Act 1993. He receives no additional remuneration for his role on the Board and has not received any expenses since his appointment. My functions in relation to the NSB, were delegated to the Government Chief Whip, Minister of State Paul Kehoe T.D., on the 22 March 2011. As such, the appointment to the NSB was made by Minister of State Kehoe.