Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The only body directly under the aegis of my Department is the NESC, National Economic and Social Council, of which the chairperson is the Secretary General of the Department. The deputy chairperson is also in the Department of the Taoiseach. I do not think the Deputy would object to the trade union members who have been appointed to that body. These individuals are nominated by the trade unions. I will cite some examples. They include Ms Sally Anne Kinahan of the ICTU; Mr. Shay Cody of IMPACT; Mr. David Begg of the ICTU; and Mr. Manus O'Riordan of the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union. The agricultural and farming organisation members appointed include individuals from the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, ICOS; the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association; the IFA and Macra na Feirme. The community and voluntary sector members are from Social Justice Ireland, the INOU, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the National Youth Council of Ireland. The environment sector members are from Friends of the Earth, the environmental pillar of social partnership. There are representatives of the Departments of Finance, Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Education and Skills, the Environment, Community and Local Government. Independent members include Professor Edgar Morganroth, associate research professor, ESRI; Professor John McHale of NUIG; Professor Mary Daly, professor of sociology and social policy, senior research fellow of Green Templeton College, department of social policy and intervention, University of Oxford; Professor Anna Davis, Trinity College Dublin; Professor Seán Ó Riain, NUI Maynooth; Dr. Michael O'Sullivan, head of UK research and global asset allocation, Credit Suisse; Dr. Michelle Norris, School of Applied Social Science, Geary Institute, University College Dublin; and Mary Walsh, chartered accountant. These individuals have been nominated by organisations or following careful consideration by the Department. They are all eminently qualified to contribute to the council.

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