Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
665. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of board appointees she has nominated since she came to office; the names, salaries and expenses of each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37363/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) comes under the remit of the Department.
Social Welfare Tribunal
The Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairman and four ordinary members, two on the nomination of Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and two nominated by Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC). There has been one appointment to the Tribunal since I came into office. On the nomination of ICTU, Ms Chris Rowland, was appointed by me from 24 October 2011. No remuneration is paid to the members of the Tribunal. Members can claim expenses for attending both hearings and meetings, as set out below. They are also entitled to the standard travel and subsistence allowances if hearings/meetings involve travel.
|
Chairman |
€ |
|
Hearing (per sitting day) |
488.11 |
|
Meetings |
73.44 |
|
Members |
- |
|
Hearing (per sitting day) |
136.71 |
|
Meetings |
68.36 |
Referrals to the tribunal are very infrequent and no such referrals have occurred for almost two years. For that reason, there was no expenditure in relation to the Social Welfare Tribunal in 2011 and there has been no expenditure in 2012 to date.
Citizens Information Board
I have made two appointments to the Citizens Information Board since coming into office. Mr.Eugene McErlean was appointed with effect from 7 September 2011 and is entitled to an annual fee of €5,985. On 1 November 2011, I appointed Ms. Fiona Ward but as she is the Department’s representative on the board she is not entitled to any fee. Neither of these appointees have claimed expenses since being appointed to the Board.
Pensions Board
I have made no appointments to the Pensions Board since I came into office.
