Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Board members are not appointed every year. They are appointed for a term, as set out in the statutes that determine each state body. It is not normal to remove people except for stated misconduct during the course of duties. There would be consequences and liabilities accruing to the State for simply firing people, as the Deputy is aware. Besides, the vast majority of people who take up these appointments do so for the good of the State and they do a very good job.

Deputy Ross made a point about volunteers. As I said, there is an entirely new appointments system which is not confined to those who were privileged enough to attend the diaspora forum. It is open to everyone anywhere who wishes to serve on a State board to make application and be considered for it. That is far more open and transparent. It is not a matter of a person being willing to serve, it is a question of the bespoke criteria that are required, whether the person meets them and, if he does, then he may apply and he will be individually scrutinised by the independent Public Appointments Service to judge whether he meets the criteria.

I wish to pay tribute to the many hundreds of people who give exemplary service to the State, for a small remuneration in many instances.

See this speech in context