Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy and I look forward to receiving it.

People are appointed to State boards on the basis of the competencies and knowledge they can bring to the work. These are non-executive appointments. We need good people for public service. We should base our views of their work, in whatever role they are asked to take up, objectively on the basis of their performance. As the Deputy said, some times a judgmental approach is taken by some regarding an appointment rather than watching their performance in implementing public policy or the commercialisation agenda which the bodies are mandated to do under statute. It is important that the appointment of people to State boards is not met with the usual knee-jerk reaction but based on an objective assessment on their work.

I have never, in either my ministerial experience or as Taoiseach, sought to appoint people purely on the basis of whether I know them personally, which incidentally is not a disqualification, or whether they have party affiliation but on what competencies they bring to the job. I can cite many instances in which I have had no problem in re-appointing people from predecessors' Administrations or in appointing people who may not be obviously of my party political faith. That is not relevant and certainly is not essential in the context of appointing people to boards. It is important that boards have credibility and are peopled by appointees who have a contribution to make and who can bring to play particular skills. One issue that arises is to ensure there are sufficient people available for such appointments and I do not believe in politicising the appointment process in that respect. Ministers have roles to appoint, usually on the basis of advice given as to suitable people for consideration, and it is incumbent on all Ministers in their appointments to ensure that such appointments are seen to be credible and are of people of character who can be depended on to display the proper ethical standards.

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