Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, I do not agree at all with that. The Cabinet sub-committee, as he is aware, is able to bring together different personnel from different Departments with a view to focusing on particular issues like homelessness, dementia or other social inclusion areas that need to be dealt with, be it anything from the post office network on.

The Deputy asked how we can now be sure this is going to happen. First, the Government will continue on with what it has already been doing in terms of ending corporate donations, radically reforming the local government structure, the reduction in the number of authorities from 114 to 31, the banning of political expenses, State cars, increments and pension entitlements, all of which has been done, as well as the introduction of gender quotas and the establishment of a constitutional convention, with a number of reports to come before the House.

Between now and 1 November, whatever appointments have to be made to boards, the Ministers will announce those publicly - in other words, Minister X might say, "We have three vacancies on board X". Rather than having to find out what actually applies, from 1 November, as the Minister pointed out, all of this will be clear on www.StateBoards.ieand all Departments will have set out the criteria for serving on the boards under their responsibility. As vacancies occur and people apply, that vetting process by PAS will be available to the Minister of the day. He or she still retains exclusive responsibility for the appointment of members to the board but those members in such cases are vetted, validated and certified as being competent people to serve on the boards in question.

It is a different model. It is a much more effective, streamlined and co-ordinated system and the public can check for themselves what vacancies are occurring on what boards, the criteria that apply and how they might apply if they wish to participate in that public service.

That is different from the others that are ring-fenced for NewERA or the commercial semi-State bodies where particular sets of skills might be required to serve on those boards.

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