Dáil debates

Thursday, 9 October 2014

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions

Appointments to State Boards

9:35 am

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Government recently announced a revised model for ministerial appointments. In future, all appointments to State boards must be advertised openly on the State boards portal at , which is operated by the Public Appointments Service. The new arrangements will apply to all appointments other than those where vacancies must be filled through a particular process under law or where a Minister is reappointing a board member who has already demonstrated the capacity to perform effectively. Applications will be processed by way of a transparent assessment system designed and implemented on an independent basis by the Public Appointments Service. Appointments must meet the specific and detailed criteria determined by the relevant Minister as necessary for effectively performing the duties of a member of the particular board. Appointments will remain the exclusive responsibility of the relevant Minister in line with the statutory requirements relating to the appointment of specific persons to State boards on an ex-officiobasis or on the basis of nominations received from other Ministers or particular stakeholders as set out.

The revised approach strengthens requirements on Ministers to develop comprehensive criteria for the filling of vacancies on State boards in consultation with key stakeholders as determined by the relevant Minister. Such stakeholders include the current chair of a relevant State board concerned and the Public Appointments Service itself. Ministers will be expected to provide the Public Appointments Service with the key requirements that a candidate must meet, including specialist skills and technical knowledge; relevant experience and sectoral expertise; educational and other qualifications, and particular personal attributes. My officials are currently preparing overarching guidelines on appointments for approval by Government, including issues related to diversity. As part of this process, all Departments have been contacted seeking comprehensive details on all State boards under their aegis.

The new arrangements will also provide that as well as being the sole portal for the receipt of applications for all State boards, www.stateboards.iewill also contain definitive and current information on all statutory boards. This material will be published on www.stateboards.iein the near future. A review of the new arrangements will be carried out and completed within 18 months.

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