Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 25 together. I will circulate a table listing the appointments I have made in the period since I took office as Minister for Transport on 14 June 2007. I have made these appointments with a view to the skills and expertise relevant to each particular position, specific arrangements pertaining to certain boards such as the appointment of worker directors, as well as recognising the need to consider gender balance on State boards. The following vacancies have arisen in recent months. A vacancy arose in August 2008 at the Galway Harbour Company, and two vacancies arose at the Dublin Airport Authority in the same month. Three vacancies exist at the Cork Airport Authority, two of which arose in July and August 2008, while one arose in August 2007. The Irish Aviation Authority has one vacancy, which arose in April 2008.

The position regarding the boards of different agencies can vary depending on the statutes which govern their existence. Under the terms of the Roads Act 1993, the board of the National Roads Authority shall consist of not less than ten and not more than 14 members. The board of the NRA has remained constant at 11 members for the past number of years and I am confident this is sufficient in numbers, experience and competence to discharge its statutory functions effectively. The legislation governing appointments to Córas Iompair Éireann and its subsidiaries provides for not more than 12 members on the board of CIE itself, and for not more than nine on the boards of the three subsidiaries. As has been the case with the NRA, not all positions have been filled all of the time.

See this speech in context