Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 July 2014
114. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way positions to the board of Bord na Móna are advertised and filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28693/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Board of Bord na Móna plc was established under the Turf Development Act, 1998. The Board consists of up to twelve members. Of these, seven of the members are appointed by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The remainder are the Managing Director who is appointed by the Board and is an ex-officio Board member and four Worker Director members, appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Acts.
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has publicly invited expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies operating under the aegis of his Department, including Bord na Mona. As set out in this invitation, appointments are made in the exercise of a statutory discretion and the Minister is not confined to making an appointment from amongst those who have expressed an interest. Proposals for new Board members are brought to Government, prior to an appointment being made.
In line with Government policy on appointments, persons who are proposed for appointment as Chairpersons of State Boards are required to make themselves available to the appropriate Oireachtas Committee to discuss the approach which they would take to their role as Chairperson and their views about the future direction of the body which they would chair. In this context the current Chairperson of Bord na Mona appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications in September 2012, in advance of his appointment.
