Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The appointments to the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, were made by me following very careful consideration of the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise relevant to the functions of the council. In this particular case, I appoint members specifically on the basis of nominations from business and employer interests, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, farming and agricultural interests, the community and voluntary sector and the environmental sector. It would not be appropriate to advertise these appointments because they are taken by the nominees of those sectors. I also appoint up to six public servants to the council, of whom at least one shall represent the Taoiseach and one shall represent the Minister for Finance. Historically, the chairperson and deputy chairperson posts are filled from the Department at Secretary General and assistant secretary level. Those appointments represent the relevant Departments to ensure the council's work is integrated. A number of independents were appointed to the NESC in June and July of last year, all of them very academically qualified people. These independent nominations were not advertised as I was happy with the quality of the nominees who had already been compiled in the Department, mainly from the academic sector. It could be argued that these appointments might perhaps be advertised on the next occasion.

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport advertised on its website seeking expressions of interests for appointments as chairperson of the boards of CIE companies and the Railway Procurement Agency and to the boards of transport, tourism and sport agencies. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources advertised on its website before the end of 2011 in regard to vacancies that arose on the boards of bodies under its responsibility. These included An Post, Bord na Móna and Ordnance Survey Ireland. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht advertised for board members for the National Concert Hall, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Arts Council. The Department of Finance sought expressions of interest for appointments to the board of directors of the recapitalised banks. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine advertised for vacancies in respect of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Coillte and the Irish National Stud. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs advertised for vacancies in the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board. The Department of Health advertised for vacancies on the Voluntary Health Insurance Board. The Department of Social Protection advertised in regard to the Citizens Information Board.

A number of those appointed to chair State boards have attended before Oireachtas committees to explain the particular expertise they bring to those boards. That innovation has been welcomed as being in everyone's interest. It ensures the public and the members of the committees can see what the appointed chairpersons bring to their work.

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