Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Defence the statutory processes involved in the appointment of chairs and members of non-Departmental public bodies under the remit of his Department and their legislative origin. [38338/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The statutory processes involved in the appointment of chairs and members of non-Departmental public bodies under the remit of my Department and their legislative origin are as follows:

Civil Defence Board.

The members of the Civil Defence Board were appointed with effect from 5 June 2005. Under Section 7 of the Civil Defence Act 2002, the terms of office of a member of the Board shall not exceed 3 years.

Section 11 of the Civil Defence Act 2002 provides:

"that Board shall consist of at least 8 but not more than 14 members who shall be appointed by the Minister."

"that not less than 4 of the members of the Board shall be women and not less than 4 shall be men."

"that the Minister shall designate one member of the Board as Chairperson." Section 11 (2) provides that:

"The members of the Board shall be:

(a) the Director General

(b) a person nominated by the County and Managers Association

(c) 4 persons, who, in the opinion of the Minister, have experience in business, industry, finance or administration relevant to the Board's functions

(d) a person nominated by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government who, in the opinion of that Minister, has relevant experience or expertise relating to emergency planning

(e) a person nominated by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland

(f) a person nominated by the Environmental Protection Agency

(g) a member of the Civil Defence Officers Association nominated by it

(h) an officer of the Defence Forces nominated by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces

(i) a member of the Garda Síochána nominated by the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, and

(j) subject to being elected

(i) a volunteer member of the Civil Defence, and

(ii) a member of the Staff of the Board."

Irish Red Cross

The Irish Red Cross Society was established on 1 July 1939. While performing an important statutory function (it is tasked with the dissemination of information on humanitarian law, the Geneva Convention and its additional protocols to which Ireland is a signatory), the Society is an autonomous body, run by the Central Council through the Executive Committee.

The Central Council of the Irish Red Cross Society consists of members elected by the various Society Areas throughout the country and of members nominated by Government.

The current appointees term of office expires 30 April 2009.

Government nominations to Central Council are made pursuant to Article 8 (4) (C) (i) of the Irish Red Cross Society Order 1939.

The President, on the advice of the Government, nominates a person to be Chairman of the Society pursuant to Article 9 (4) of the Irish Red Cross Society Order, 1939.

The President of Ireland, by virtue of their office, shall be President of the Society, pursuant to the Red Cross Act 1944.

Persons nominated by Government are selected for the experience and benefit they will bring to the Society, e.g. financial, medical, business acumen, etc. The Central Council meets twice yearly on policy issues or if the need arises a special meeting of Council is arranged.

Government nominees must make up at least one third of Central Council under the legislation. There are also elected members from each of the areas, namely 27 elected members. Members are elected/nominated for a three-year period which overlaps so as to maintain continuity.

The Executive Committee of the Society is elected by Central Council from within its own ranks. It meets monthly and runs the day to day affairs of the Society on behalf of the Central Council.

Coiste an Asgard

Coiste on Asgard is a company limited by guarantee established under the Companies Acts. The Articles of Association of An Coiste provide that the Minister for Defence is ex-officio the chairman of the board of directors and that he may appoint not more than 14 other directors.

Ombudsman for the Defence Forces.

Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is head of the Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and is appointed by the President, acting upon the recommendation of the Government, under Section 2 of the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004.