Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Exactly. It genuinely is important that the Government should know who is available and, by definition, one must search to find people. Some organisations have indicated their preferences through directories and others have sent lists of people for consideration. Such people are considered and some are appointed. It is difficult, however, to set out a form of bureaucratic system of assessment of this matter. It is a question of finding people, depending on the business of the organisation, to establish a good and balanced non-executive board that will work with the executive and will have the ability to think strategically about the future of such organisations, on how best they should be managed and what they should be doing. Moreover, they should be working within broad Government policy, if not direction. They cannot do their own thing regardless as they must work to a consistent policy framework. However, allowing for that, important functions of a board include the need to show initiative, fresh thinking and the ability to change and adapt the roles of such organisations, which sometimes would require subsequent ministerial or Cabinet approval, and consequently people of ability are needed on them. Regardless of whether they are commercial boards or simply are boards that are charged with delivering services or when public moneys are involved, the governance of such organisations obviously is important and the job must be done properly and competently. Where it is not done, the Government must be prepared to move on and reshape these boards.

For example, I refer to the recent controversy that arose in respect of FÁS. That organisation, its board and the composition thereof must be changed and adapted and must move on. An important aspect of governance arrangements is to show that the board should be changed, or certainly that the idea of simply nominating from various bodies regardless is not necessarily the most dynamic means of achieving the valid and legitimate objectives as originally set out.

An important aspect of ministerial work is to be acquainted with people who serve on such boards, to be in touch with them, to listen and talk to them, to be in contact with them to ascertain what they are doing and to ensure they are in line with overall Government objectives and that work is being conducted in an appropriate and proper fashion. This is an ongoing task and discipline that must be considered all the time. As for membership or prospective membership, I issue a genuine invitation to all those who feel they have a contribution to make and who are motivated by public service to apprise Departments, organisations or Ministers accordingly.

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