Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 658: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of the vacancies on the boards of statutory or State bodies and other statutory appointments which exist and which must be made by him or the Government; the reason, in each case, for the vacancy; and when each vacancy will be filled. [24189/05]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 659: To ask the Minister for Defence if he 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 him or the Government; and the mechanisms envisaged by which the appointees will be selected. [24203/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 658 and 659 together.

The inaugural Civil Defence Board was appointed with effect from 5 June 2002 for three years. Accordingly, a new board is required to be appointed and nominations are being considered. Appointments to the Civil Defence Board are made on the basis of four persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, have experience in business, industry, finance or administration; the director general, Civil Defence Board; a volunteer member of Civil Defence; a member of the staff of the board; an officer of the Defence Forces nominated by the Chief of Staff; a nominee of the County and City Managers' Association; a nominee of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with experience in emergency planning; a nominee of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland; a nominee of the Environmental Protection Agency; a member of the Civil Defence Officers' Association; a member of the Garda Síochána nominated by the Garda Commissioner.

The Central Council of the Irish Red Cross Society consists of members elected by the various society areas and of members nominated by Government. The Government appointees' term of office expires on 30 April 2006. There is one vacancy on the Central Council of the Red Cross due to the death of a member in October 2003. However, the number of Government nominees remaining complies with the legislative requirement.

There is no vacancy on the board of Coiste an Asgard, but one vacancy is due to arise later this year. In general, persons appointed to the board of Coiste an Asgard have experience in sailing or other relevant experience.

In appointing persons to the boards under my aegis, I follow the guidelines set out in the Cabinet handbook regarding eligibility, transparency and gender balance. The Department of Finance, in conjunction with other 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, further consideration will be given as to whether any change to the existing arrangements is appropriate or not.