Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We could ask RTE to include diversity and ethnic mixes in the next public service statement as that would ensure that RTE would put it into its corporate and public service programmes as an objective.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Petition No. P00012/14 is a call for a sworn inquiry into the appointment of two senior planning inspectors to the board of An Bord Pleanála. The petitioner, Mr. Jim Connolly, is calling for an independent inquiry into the appointment of two senior planning inspectors to the board of An Bord Pleanala in January 2012. He is claiming there was collusion by the chairman of An Bord Pleanála, senior officials of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, ICTU, IMPACT and a Government Minister to allow the appointments be made in the first place. He is questioning how the appointments can be justified under the requirements of section 106 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 regarding appointments to the board. He is of the opinion that the two officials could not have met the requirements of this section of the Act as planning and farming are poles apart. He also notes other legal factors relevant to the appointment process, including the setting of precedents, which would allow the board to be entirely made up of its own employees. This issue was discussed in 2008 by the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht with the Irish Rural Dwellers Association and the then Minister. The Minister outlined the nominating and appointments process and stated that these had only recently been endorsed by the Oireachtas. Furthermore it appears from transcripts of this meeting that no follow-up action was recommended.

I invite the members to comment.