Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, and Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together.

Since coming into office on 9 March 2011, I have made appointments to the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, as set out in the following tables which will be circulated with the Official Report. I can give the Deputy the names here if he so wishes.

The NESC provides guidance to Government on strategic issues for Ireland's economic and social development. Appointments to the NESC are made in accordance with the provisions of the NESDO Act 2006 as amended by the NESC (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010. I appoint members specifically on the basis of nominations from business and employer interests, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, farming and agricultural interests, the community and voluntary sector and the environmental sector. I may also appoint up to six public servants of whom at least one shall represent the Taoiseach and one shall represent the Minister for Finance. These appointments represent relevant Departments to ensure that the work of NESC is integrated with Government policy making. Historically, the chairperson and deputy chairperson posts are filled from my Department at Secretary General and assistant secretary level. NESC members are not entitled to remuneration.

I appointed eight independent members in June and July last year. Of these, four were women and four were men. Women now account for 29% of the council's total membership while men account for 71% of its membership.

There has been one appointment to the National Statistics Board, NSB since I took office. The person concerned is an assistant secretary at my Department and was appointed to the NSB in line with the provisions of the Statistics Act 1993. My functions in respect of the NSB were delegated to the Government Chief Whip, the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Paul Kehoe, who made the appointment in this case. No remuneration is payable to this appointee for this role on the NSB.

In view of the statutory procedures for the appointment of members of the boards of NESC and the NSB, there is limited scope for me to take factors such as gender or whether a person is a member the diaspora into account when I make such appointments. Under the new arrangements for the appointment of State board members which the Government introduced in 2011, Departments now invite expressions of interest from the public in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis on their websites. It is open to all members of the public, including the diaspora, to apply for such positions and all applications will receive appropriate consideration from the Ministers concerned.

The Government appreciates the willingness of individuals based abroad to serve on State boards. Several members of the global Irish network have been appointed to State boards and I expect more will be appointed in the future. The Government will continue to consider suitably qualified members of the diaspora for appointment to State boards, including those who may be members of the global Irish network and other initiatives such as Diaspora 2016.

Tables for Circulation with Official Report in response to question 40095/12

Details of appointments made by the Taoiseach to NESC since 9 March 2011 are set out in the following tables.

Details of appointment made to the National Statistics Board since 9 March 2011

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