Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 238: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will provide a list of the vacancies on the boards of statutory or State bodies and other statutory appointments which currently exist and which must be made by her or the Government; the reason, in each case, for the vacancy; and when each vacancy will be filled. [24177/05]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 239: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will provide a list of boards of statutory or State bodies and statutory appointments to which vacancies are expected to fall due between now and 31 December 2005 for appointments to be made by her or the Government; and the mechanisms envisaged by which the appointees will be selected. [24191/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together.

Information on membership vacancies in statutory bodies where appointments are made by the Minister for Health and Children is shown in Table 1. However, the Deputy will wish to be aware in the context of the table that in some instances the relevant legislation may provide for a maximum number of members rather than setting an exact numerical membership requirement. The information contained in the Table 1 takes into account the full membership potential of the body.

The term of office of the most recent board of the postgraduate medical and dental board, PGMDB, expired in March 2002. The Prospectus report recommended that the PGMDB should be abolished and that its functions should be taken on by other bodies in the restructured health service. The Department, in consultation with the Health Service Executive and the Medical Council, is considering how best the functions of the PGMDB and other functions relating to medical education and training should be provided for in the future by the HSE. In relation to dental education and training, consultation with the Dental Council will also be undertaken. The abolition of the body and the transfer of its functions will be effected by the new medical practitioners Bill, which is being drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel. The information requested by the Deputy in regard to expected vacancies is set out in Table 2.

The process by which a person is appointed to a state board or body reflects the conditions for the appointment laid down in the relevant statutory instrument or Act. Nominations under the aegis of my Department can arise in different ways. Some members are nominated by prescribed bodies, individual office holders or organisations and others are appointed by the Minister for Health and Children, having due regard to the nature of the work of the body and the consequent requirement for any appointee to hold the necessary skills and expertise required to discharge the functions of that particular body. The time required to appoint members therefore varies. It is my intention, however, to fill vacancies in a timely manner.