Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The point I was making was that membership of the boards is not limited to specific personnel or people of a specific background, nor does it exclude people with a political background. The majority of the people appointed to the boards are not known to me personally, but if they are vouched for by the relevant line Minister as people he believes suitable for appointment, I accept that the people with the line responsibility have made inquiries and appointed them on the basis of their skills, qualifications or general experience. As the Deputy knows, dealing with the non-executive functions of a board and governance of an organisation does not require technical executive types. It requires people with an overall understanding of the role and remit of the organisation who can bring something to the table to assist that organisation execute its remit. Also, the person's own experience is part of the relevant criteria in being able to contribute to a board.

It is open to any Oireachtas committee to invite a chairman and chief executive to appear before a committee at any time to discuss issues regarding general governance and the areas of expertise applicable to board structures or membership. There is a provision under the Broadcasting Act for involvement. Therefore, the remit and scope of these things varies from Department to Department and board to board. The overall criteria we need to apply is that people be appointed on the basis of relevant skills, qualifications and experience and that they are people whom one would trust in terms of their public service and the role they will play on the board. It is open to any member of the public or any person at any time to represent himself or herself as suitable for a board appointment and it is a matter for the relevant Minister or deciding officer to decide in any particular case whether the people available are suitable for appointment.

See this speech in context