Dáil debates

Wednesday, 12 January 2011

2:30 pm

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is important to point out that some people might be in an election mode but an election has not been called. As the Deputy said, previous Governments of all hues have filled vacancies when in office. There is no legal compromise appointing people if the vacancies exist. I faced a situation when I came into office in 1997 when there was the purported appointment of 24 people to health boards before the vacancies even occurred. The vacancies arose in my term but my predecessor sought to appoint 24 people to vacancies on health boards which arose after the change of Government. That had to be rectified.

As vacancies arise, where there are competent people available to do the job and if they are needed for the purpose of proper governance of these agencies, they should and can be considered. I take the point that we need to be mindful to ensure that when elections are called, a prudent approach is taken to these issues.

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