Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Will appointments by the Taoiseach be made on the basis of merit rather than friendship, as his predecessor outlined in the House? It is often difficult to get good people to serve on State boards due to the angst they may experience. Those who wish to do public service are sometimes reluctant to take up positions on State boards. Will the appointments by the Taoiseach be made on the basis of merit and qualification as distinct from party membership or friendship?

The Fine Gael Party has published a detailed Bill on public appointments and transparency which would allow for persons to be appointed as chairpersons of State boards or public agencies to come before the relevant Oireachtas committee, not for an interrogation but to outline the reasons they believe they have a contribution to make to public life and the board or agency to which they are to be appointed. Does the Taoiseach support this concept given that his predecessor stated he would like to involve the House in appointments of that nature and the Minister for Finance only last week indicated it could be useful to give some thought to involving committees of the House in appointments to some boards. He was, I admit, not referring to all such appointments but to those of chairpersons or chief executives of important boards or agencies. Does the Taoiseach share the view that it would improve public perception to allow such individuals to make a case in public to an Oireachtas committee by setting out their view of the contribution they could make? Would the Taoiseach support my party's Bill if we were to move it or does he intend to draft and produce legislation on behalf of the Government which would give rise to the position I have described?

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