Ms Fiona Tierney:

I misunderstood the Deputy. We run a separate website, stateboards.ie, which is entirely different from the recruitment process. Since November 2014, we have been asked to take on board this particular role. We advertise the vacancies on State boards through a booklet setting out the board, what the vacancies involve, how many there are, the preferred type of candidate and the skills they should possess. It is not the same as recruitment. The applications are taken in online and reviewed by a panel of people we put together. The purpose of the review is to assess whether the applications meet the criteria set out in the booklet. It is not an interview. It can be but it is not a competitive process. The names that meet the selection criteria are then passed on to the relevant Minister for appointment.