Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Appointments to State boards under the aegis of my Department, are made with due regard to the provisions of the legislation under which the body was established, and are made on the basis of the relevant experience and skills of the individuals concerned. Other issues such as gender are also taken into consideration.

In general, State-sponsored bodies are covered by the code of practice for the governance of State bodies and a copy of this code is given to all directors on appointment. It is a matter for each agency to ensure that the code of practice is complied with in so far as it relates to the conduct of its directors.

As regards tax compliance by persons being considered for appointment to State boards, the Department of Finance, in conjunction with other relevant Departments, has been considering whether tax clearance certificates can and should be required of such persons. Based on the outcome of that process, that Department will consider further whether any change to existing arrangements is appropriate.