Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach the appointments made by him since June 2002 to State boards or other agencies under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24237/05]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach the appointments which he has made to State boards or other agencies since January 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25192/05]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach the appointments made by him since 2002 to boards or agencies operating under the auspices of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26559/05]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach the appointments to State boards and other agencies made by him since June 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27683/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, together.

The information sought by the Deputy concerning the names of the persons appointed by me since June 2002 to State boards and agencies under my Department's aegis, namely the National Statistics Board, the Law Reform Commission, the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, the National Economic and Social Council and the National Economic and Social Forum, is set out in a schedule which I am circulating with the Official Report for the information of the House.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Boards and Agencies under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach

1 The National Statistics Board

2 The Law Reform Commission

3 The National Centre for Partnership and Performance, NCPP

4 The National Economic and Social Council, NESC

5 The National Economic and Social Forum, NESF

There have been no new Government nominees to the council of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance since its establishment. However, the nominees of the bodies represented on the council have changed as a result of individual retirements and internal organisational change within IBEC, the CIF and ICTU.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I look forward to seeing the report. The Taoiseach and his Government are not the only ones who have been guilty of this. There has been a tradition during the interregnum between elections being called and held of making appointments to State boards. The previous Minister for Finance made 57 appointments to four State bodies the day before he moved to his new position. I acknowledge that, if an analysis was made, all Governments have probably taken similar actions. I do not know if the Ceann Comhairle did the same when he was about to leave his position as Minister. I say this in case he is about to jump in to stop me.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Ceann Comhairle cannot be drawn into any debates in the House.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Kenny's predecessor certainly believed in that.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He probably followed general regulations. Will the Taoiseach agree that, irrespective of when the next election is called or caused and the Ministers concerned, there will be no appointments made to State boards during that period?

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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We will never get them to agree to that.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The former Minister for Equality and Law Reform and Labour Deputy, Mr.Mervyn Taylor, laid down a Cabinet agreement for 40% representation of women on State boards. That probably applies to the Taoiseach's Department. Does such a case remain Government policy? Will the Taoiseach encourage his Ministers to follow through on that?

Finally, will he confirm that a person who had to resign from a State board as a result of surrounding publicity — I refer to the Northern Bank and Mr. Flynn — is still in receipt of payments for work done for a State agency, the HSE?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise, it is outside these questions.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It does.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is a different question. The question refers specifically to appointments made by the Taoiseach since January 2005.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach might want to confirm that the appointment had been made.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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On such questions, many of my predecessors ruled that when a reply is to be printed in the Official Report and not given orally, Members should await the reply rather than pursue the matter by supplementary questions.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We are people of little patience, as the Ceann Comhairle knows.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It does not make sense that supplementary questions be asked when the reply to the main question is not known.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Ceann Comhairle can set a precedent.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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My predecessors have strictly enforced that ruling as far back as the 1920s.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am sure that when the Ceann Comhairle sat on this side of the House, he was aggressive in asking questions.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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In fairness to Deputy Kenny, my reply will not help him on his last question. The person concerned is engaged in one area as far as I know. I am not sure if he is in receipt of payment but I presume he is. However, he is off all the boards with which my Department is involved or that are connected with social partnership.

On Deputy Kenny's first question, I readily admit that we do not serve ourselves well in this House. It might sound efficient or smart but is not a bright idea. The last time, I managed to curtail it reasonably well but, because the Government was returning, it may not have made as much difference. I do not think that just packing these things up on the way out ——

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The polls were good then. It is different now.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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They were being carefully tracked.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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They were doing even better when the Minister, Deputy McDowell, was going up the ladder.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Rabbitte knows how they go up and down. On State boards, the answer is "Yes". In all the names that come before Government, we endeavour to ensure we keep to the percentage. It is not always maintained by Departments and certainly not by the organisations that have nominating rights to boards. It is an ongoing difficulty which does not only concern social partners but many organisations which insist on sending male nominees. That is something of which they are always guilty, but we continue to try deal with that.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Has the Taoiseach had time to reflect on his appointments to the National Consumer Agency? The Consumers' Association of Ireland has worked on behalf of consumers for many years. I ask the Taoiseach whether the appointment of Ms Celia Larkin is to be taken into account——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Chair has ruled on the matter of supplementaries. Furthermore, these questions refer specifically to the Taoiseach's Department but the National Consumer Agency is the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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There is an element of collective responsibility involved here on which the Taoiseach might want to comment.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Chair has ruled on the matter.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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I appreciate the Chair is being strict in its adherence to——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Chair is being fair in implementing the Standing Order that applies.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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In fairness to the Consumers' Association of Ireland the Chair might allow a little latitude.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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If the Deputy has a question for the appropriate Minister, I suggest he submits one to that Minister.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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I will pass on the message.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Does the Taoiseach agree that it would be a useful innovation to respond on the hoof to Deputy Kenny's suggestion that there would not be any appointments made in the interregnum in future?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Deputy mean forever more?

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Yes, forever more.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will think about that. I do not believe the House — and I have sat on this side and on the opposite side——

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On this side more often.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have been on the opposite side for many periods.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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It will not be long now.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not believe the House serves itself well by making appointments in the interregnum. I have argued that point on the opposite side of the House and in Government, but I have not always won the argument. The situation following an election is different. I will not go into the argument. I could argue that Members on both sides have done this. I am not sure if I am guilty of having done it, but it is not good for the House. Having spent a considerable amount of my working life here, I have a great respect for the House. It is not a good practice.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Except on Thursdays.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I might have some influence if it arises again. I would not like to start a practice, as has happened on many occasions in the past, only for it to be ignored by others on taking office. I always make a virtue of initiating such practices and then others turn around and do the complete opposite and one is left looking silly. Unless there was real agreement on this proposal, I would not be interested in it.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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If an honourable agreement was entered into, the Taoiseach could rely on us that it would be adhered to. Is the Taoiseach saying he cannot control, for example, what the Minister, Deputy Roche — to whom I refer simply because he is sitting beside the Taoiseach — might do, in that, if the Minister wants to rush off and make a number of appointments, the Taoiseach can only caution or advise him? Surely, the Taoiseach could set down policy on this matter for his Government and it would be seen as one very small but welcome step for politics.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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If it ever arises, I might show a good example.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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That sounds as if it might not arise.

Deputies:

It probably will not.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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It is difficult to get a commitment from the Taoiseach on this. He has told us he generally agrees this is not good for politics and public life.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not believe we did it on the last occasion. I probably have the best record on this.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach may have. I am not making any insinuations about his record.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach should take a chance on this.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I am merely trying to clarify that there would be that type of bipartisan approach that appointments made in this fashion during the interregnum diminish politics and that there ought to be an agreement and understanding that it would not be done. I ask the Taoiseach, as the man in charge at the moment, whether he agrees.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I answered Deputy Kenny's earlier question on this. There may be cases where it is essential that this is done, but generally filling all appointments in the interregnum — Deputy Kenny was honourable in admitting it has happened on all sides of the House — is not good practice. It does not look good to the members of the public. Anything that affects the House negatively in terms of how it is viewed by members of the public is bad for politics. On that basis I agree with the proposal but there would need to be an understanding on it. We are not too bad at understanding such practices. There should not be a practice of simply making appointments to fill boards in the event of a change of Government. Certainly if this arises with me, I will try to do the honourable thing.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I hope the Taoiseach will try hard.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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When?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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In the dim, distant future.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Prepositions are very important.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Taoiseach acknowledge the desirability of State boards having a truly national and all-Ireland outlook and approach to their work? For example, in regard to future vacancies on the National Economic and Social Forum would he look to appointments north of the Border in a raft of areas, including local government, trade unions, community and voluntary and business and farmer representation? It would be appropriate to have representatives from all over the island of Ireland. Will the Taoiseach consider that issue in regard to casual vacancies that may arise and also in regard to the five Government appointees on the next round? Will he consider looking at the appointments in the context of an all-Ireland approach? If he does not have the answer to my last point perhaps he will come back to me on it. Is legislation required to address the representation on the NESF or any of the other bodies described as national and being State appointed?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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For once I can agree with Deputy Ó Caoláin. On the last occasion I appointed a Government nominee from Northern Ireland to the board of NESF, Eithne McLaughlin, from Queens University. I am open to making similar appointments to other boards where there are suitable candidates. There is a benefit in having an all Ireland representation, in regard to the implementation bodies and other bodies. If there are suitable candidates in Northern Ireland, and there are many, who would bring expertise to bear, we will appoint them. In areas such as health we have worked in co-operation with people in Northern Ireland in radiological work to treat cancers. This has worked very well. We have been working closely with people in Northern Ireland. There is an all-island basis with regard to many of these issues and I am in favour of working together to address common problems.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach has acknowledged the importance of this and has indicated one appointment. Will he enhance that approach by ensuring greater representation in the future?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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On that board there are only five members, one of whom is from Northern Ireland. Where there is expertise and where good people from Northern Ireland are prepared to serve on a board, I have no difficulty with that. It is an area I will look at as vacancies arise.