Dáil debates

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

 

Appointments to State Boards

4:00 pm

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Athruithe polaitiúla agus athruithe tríd an gcóras a dúirt Fine Gael a bheadh ann faoi Rialtas Nua. Dúirt an Taoiseach é sin i rith an toghcháin beagnach bliain ó shin, ach ní sin atá ag tarlú nó atá á dhéanamh ag an Rialtas. Despite what the Taoiseach said in reply to an Teachta Joe Higgins, the fact is that vacancies for all paid positions on State boards are not being advertised on the website of the Public Appointments Service or the relevant Department. The Taoiseach promised change in six months, but 12 months later there has been little change on this issue. In the case of the Department of Justice and Equality, none of the appointments to eight different boards was advertised. The chair of the Equality Authority was reappointed without being interviewed by a committee. Likewise, appointments to IDA Ireland, the National Consumer Agency and An Post have ignored the new procedures.

Why have so many Departments ignored the Taoiseach's stated commitment to introduce new procedures for appointments to State boards? Instead we have seen the appointment of a flock of past or current party members, strategists and donors of the Fine Gael and Labour parties. Will the Taoiseach clarify whether he decided consciously to do a U-turn on yet another election commitment or does he intend, even a year later, to introduce some process that will change the way these appointments are made in the future? If, as he said, he is keeping a report card on Ministers, why are these Departments ignoring his commitment on this issue?

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