Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Several different processes are involved in appointments to boards and agencies under the aegis of my Department. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government or by the Government.

In other cases, it is incumbent on specified nominating bodies to recommend suitable appointees. Where appointment of members of boards and agencies falls directly to the Minister, the importance of selecting persons of good character and repute is a primary consideration.

All of my Department's boards and agencies are required to comply with the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. Most of my Department's boards and agencies are prescribed under the Ethics in Public Office Acts and members in such cases are obliged to make statements of interest in accordance with those Acts.

The Department of Finance, in conjunction with relevant Departments, has been considering whether tax clearance certificates can and should be required of persons being considered for appointment to State boards. Based on the outcome of that process, the Minister for Finance will consider further, in consultation with the Government, whether any changes to the existing arrangements are appropriate.