Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It does not fall to me to make appointments. They are made by the line Minister in the case of each semi-State company, as determined by the grounding legislation used to set up the company. It is a matter for the line Minister to make the final appointment from those on the list. If he or she judges that there is nobody on it who is appropriate or suitable, he or she can go outside it, in which case he or she must make a public statement on it, explaining why those who were shortlisted were not considered appropriate and the person he or she has appointed is. This is all laid out in the guidelines.

See this speech in context