Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Was the Taoiseach contacted recently by members of the Green Party about appointments that were made of former or failed Green Party candidates to State boards? The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, appointed Mr. Vincent P. Martin and Ms Gene Feighery who lost their seats in local elections to serve on the Private Residential Tenancies Board. Mr. Niall Ó Brolcháin was appointed a Senator by the Taoiseach. Ms Burrell, who lost her seat in the local elections, was appointed to the National Disability Authority. The former Green Party secretary general, Mr. Nutty, was appointed to An Foras Orgánach, the new organic food group. A further Green Party politician, Ms Davidson, who failed to win a seat in last year's Dublin South by-election, is a classifier with the IFCO. There are also a number of assistant classifiers who are former Fianna Fáil politicians, including Mr. Sheridan and three ex-Members of the Seanad, including former Senators Bennett, Fitzgerald and McGuinness. I note that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, recently appointed a friend and well-known active Fianna Fáil canvasser to the board of the National Transport Authority. Did the Green Party consult the Taoiseach about those appointments? In his capacity as head of Government, does the Taoiseach think this is the way to conduct the nation's business? Does he think it would be appropriate to advertise these positions? Does he have any belief in Fine Gael's proposal that the chairpersons of such organisations should at least be asked to appear before the appropriate Oireachtas committee to tell members what they have to offer in terms of their appointment? Does the Taoiseach not think that would be a broad and more comprehensive response? He is the Taoiseach and while there are many people who do not vote for him or his party, he is still their Taoiseach.

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