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Departmental Bodies Abolition

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2015

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Ceisteanna (519, 520)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

519. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of agencies, quangos or other bodies within his Department, funded or established by his Department which have been scrapped, merged or reduced since this Government was formed; the amount saved in each case; the reduction in staff as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18435/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joe Costello

Ceist:

520. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies currently exist, or on which vacancies are anticipated to arise, up to and including 1 January 2016; the number of vacancies in each case; when the vacancy arose or will arise; if the vacancy relates to a chair or a member; if he will provide details of the appointment process in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18483/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 520 together.

There are no State Agencies, State Boards or organisations of the type referred to under the aegis of my Department.

My Department currently has four bodies, boards, or committees under its aegis. These are: the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee; the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group; the NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights; and the Standing Committee on Holocaust Education, Research and Remembrance. All appointments are unpaid except for appointments to the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group. For that group, members receive an allowance of €2,000 per annum and the Chairperson receives an allowance of €3,000 per annum, although the current Chairperson has waived this.

None of these bodies has been merged or abolished since 2011. However, in September 2013, the Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC), which was responsible for providing advice on development education, was officially disbanded. Its abolition followed the publication of ‘One World, One Future’ - Ireland’s Policy for International Development - which provided for a member of the DEAC to be appointed to the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group. This Committee was serviced from the Department’s overall budget, and it had no whole time equivalent staff. Accordingly, there were no significant savings arising from its abolition.

My Department intends also to establish an Oversight Group with an Independent Chair in order to monitor implementation of Ireland’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2015-2018. The Plan outlines actions Ireland will take in its development, political and peacekeeping engagement in order to (i) ameliorate distinct adverse effect of conflict on women and girls and (ii) increase the participation of women in decision-making in conflict and post-conflict situations. The Oversight Group will comprise representatives of the relevant statutory authorities as well as representatives of civil society organisations, academics and independent experts. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I also appoint four Irish citizens to the board of the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (known as the Fulbright Commission). The Commission is a bi-national Education Commission between the Irish and United States Governments. Members of the board do not receive remuneration and no vacancies currently exist nor are any anticipated to arise before 1 January 2016.

The boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies currently exist or on which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to and including 1 January 2016 are set out in the following table.

Board, Body or Committee

Expected Date of vacancy

Number of Vacancies

Chair/Member

Appointment Process

Oversight Group – National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security

Spring 2015

TBC

TBC

Nomination of Minister. Open call for expressions of interest was issued March 2015.

Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group

Vacancies will arise after the final meeting of the Expert Advisory Group in 2015.

3

Member

Nomination of Minister.

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