Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 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. [38337/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In the case of Údarás na Gaeltachta, section 6(2) (as amended by section 3(1) of the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1999) of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act 1979 provides that the Minister will appoint the Chairperson and two members to the board while the remaining 17 board members will be elected by the Gaeltacht community. Sections 6(2A) and 6(2B) (as inserted by section 3(1) of the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1999) of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act 1979 further provide that the person appointed as chairperson shall not have stood as a candidate in the last election and that he or she shall have such special skills or experience as the Minister considers appropriate having regard to the functions of Údarás.

Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland:

The Charities Act 1961 outlines the procedure in place for the appointment of the chairperson and the Board members of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland.

Section 8(1) states that "the Government shall appoint persons to be members of the Board from time to time as occasion requires" and 8(5) states that "...as occasion requires, the Board shall appoint a member of the Board to be the Chairman of the Board..."

An Foras Teanga:

The procedures in relation to the appointment of the board of the North South Language Body, An Foras Teanga (comprising Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster Scots Agency) are set out in the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 (paragraphs 2.1 to 2.8 inclusive of Part 5 of Annex 2 to the Schedule).

The Western Development Commission:

The Western Development Commission Act 1998 provides that the Minister will appoint the Chairperson and 11 ordinary members, with the consent of the Minister of Finance. The legislation further provides that the chairperson and ordinary members will hold office for a period of 3 years from the date of his or her appointment.

Dormant Accounts Board:

The Chairperson and members of the Dormant Accounts Board are appointed by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in accordance with Section 32 of the Dormant Accounts Acts 2001 to 2005.

For the avoidance of doubt, appointments to boards of non-statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department have been dealt with in my reply to question number 38 of 9 November 2006.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the statutory processes involved in the appointment of chairs and members of non-Departmental public bodies under the remit of her Department and their legislative origin. [38334/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The appointment of Chairman and members of the Board of An Bord Bia are made by the Minister in accordance with Section 14 of the An Bord Bia Act 1994 to 2004. Appointments are made by Warrant signed by the Minister.

Teagasc:

The First Schedule of the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988 provides for the appointment by the Minister of the Chairman and 10 ordinary members to the Teagasc Authority. The Act provides that:

(a) the Minister nominates 5 of the ordinary members on the basis of their knowledge or experience of agriculture, agricultural research, education, food processing, the food processing industry or the management of commercial enterprises.

(b) the other 5 ordinary members are nominated by outside organisations that are representative of persons engaged in agriculture or the promotion or development of the agricultural industry.

National Stud:

The Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Finance, appoints the Chairman and Directors of the Irish National Stud.

The National Stud Act, 1976, provides that the number of Directors (including the Chairman) shall not be less than three or more than seven.

Coillte Teoranta:

The legislative basis for appointments to the Board of Directors of Coillte Teoranta is Section 15 of the Forestry Act 1988 (Number 26 of 1988). The Chairman and other Directors are appointed by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

Section 15 (2) specifies that the number of directors (including the Chairman) shall be not more than 9 and that each director (including the Chairman) shall be appointed for a period not exceeding five years and shall be eligible for reappointment.

Veterinary Council of Ireland:

Veterinary Council of Ireland was established under the Veterinary Practice Act 2005.

The statutory processes for appointment of members are specified in Section 16 of the Act, while appointment of the chair (styled as 'President' under the Act) is specified in paragraph 16 of Schedule 2 to the Act.

Animal Remedies Consultative Committee:

The statutory processes for the appointment of the Animal Remedies Consultative Committee are provided for in Section 3(2) of the Animal Remedies Act 1993 and SI 175 of 1994, as amended by SI 175 of 2004. It has been the practice that on each occasion the Committee meets, it elects a chair from among the members present.

National Milk Agency:

The legislative grounding of the Board is contained in the Milk (Regulation of Supply) Acts, 1994 to 1996. The appointment of the Chair is reserved to the Minister. The Minister shall also appoint those members nominated by processor, distributor, retail and consumer interests.

Representatives of producers are elected by the producers themselves.