Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2023
266. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of retired senior civil servants and public servants appointed by the officeholder of the day to State boards, authorities and other State-appointed bodies, after being recommended on draft lists submitted by the Public Appointments Service, in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9058/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra267. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of senior staff members of her Department or of State bodies under the aegis of her Department who are also on the boards of bodies registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or on the board of bodies which have had to disclose that they engaged in lobbying State authorities; if it is intended to issue directions as to the appropriateness of such involvement in these bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9076/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.
The Deputy will be aware that there are four agencies under the remit of my Department - the Charities Regulator, Pobal, Water Safety Ireland and the Western Development Commission.
Since my Department's establishment in 2017, there has been one retired public servant appointed to the board of the Charities Regulator (2022) and one retired public servant appointed to the board of the Western Development Commission (2020) through the Public Appointments Service process.
There is one senior staff member in Pobal appointed to the board of a body registered for lobbying purposes. The onus is on that individual and the board of that body to ensure that all lobbying activity is in line with the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015.
