4 Iúil 2011, 12:35
The recently appointed chairpersons to the board of four of Ireland’s most important agencies will be scrutinised by an Oireachtas Committee for the first time next week.
On Tuesday, 12 July, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht will question the recent appointees to the position of chairperson of CIE, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród.
This is the first occasion on which an Oireachtas Committee will have the opportunity to assess the suitability of the nominations to chairs of State bodies. It will also enable Committee members to establish their plans for these agencies and put specific issues they may have regarding Ireland’s public transport system.
The appointees for the positions are
- Chairperson of CIE - Vivienne Jupp;
- Chairperson of Dublin Bus - Kevin Bonner;
- Chairperson of Bus Éireann – Paul Mallee;
- Chairperson of Iarnród Éireann – Phil Gaffney.
“This is a most welcome development and the Committee is looking forward to having a meaningful discussion with these individuals. For the first time, it will be an opportunity for elected public representatives to consider the suitability and capacity of those who have been appointed to oversee some of the State’s most influential bodies.
It will also provide an opportunity for appointees to present their capabilities for the role and to outline their vision for the future of these organisations.
In the past, sometimes the impression has existed that chairmanships of such agencies was a closed shop and that no opportunity existed for proper scrutiny of the eligibility of candidates. It must be remembered that organisations such as CIE, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnórd Eireann are hugely significant in the everyday lives of millions of people. Therefore, I believe it is only proper that those charged with the substantial responsibility of managing their efficient supervision should prove their bona fides and competence in an open public forum.”
The selection process to fill these positions was a new departure. The process was broadened to include public advertisements in the media and on the Department’s website seeking expressions of interest. More than 270 expressions of interest were received, including two of the four appointees.
It also marks the start of a new era for CIE and its subsidiaries. It is putting in place a more traditional structure with a separate, non-executive Chairperson for each company.
ENDS
Daniel English
Oireachtas Communications Office
01 618 4484
087 6949926
The appointees
Vivienne Jupp is currently a management consultant, and formerly a global managing director of Accenture. She was the first female partner in Europe in Accenture in 1988. She has had a number of Government appointments including:
Chair, Information Society Strategy Committee (1996);
Chair, Information Society Committee (1997-2000);
Member, Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (1998-2009).
- Kevin Bonner is currently a consultant, formerly Secretary General of Department of Labour (1990-1993) and Department of Enterprise and Employment (1993-1997). He has a very strong background in industrial relations and employment law. He has had a number of Government appointments including:
- Chairman of Marine Institute;
- Member of NESC and Council of ESRI;
- (Currently) Chairman of Ordnance Survey Ireland.
- Paul Mallee is the current President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Ireland. His background is in management consultancy, mostly in the transport field in Ireland and abroad.
- Phil Gaffney was formerly managing director of the Hong Kong Metro, having also served as Chief Engineer and Operations Director during his 28 years with that company. He retired to Co Cork in 2005, was appointed to the Board of Iarnród Éireann in January 2006 and reappointed in May 2009. He has also recently served as Chairman of Crossrail Rail Systems Expert Panel in the UK.
Committee Membership
Deputies:
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Paudie Coffey, Fine Gael
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Noel Coonan, Fine Gael
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael
Tony McLoughlin, Fine Gael
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Kevin Humphreys, Labour Party
Gerald Nash, Labour Party
Seán Kenny, Labour Party
Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Timmy Dooley, Fianne Fáil
Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil
Sandra McLellan, Sinn Féin
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Socialist Party
Catherine Murphy, Independent
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent
Senators:
Cáit Keane, Fine Gael
Catherine Noone, Fine Gael
Labhrás Ó’Murchú, Fianna Fáil
Ned O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil
Eamon Coghlan, Independent