Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the date of establishment of the committee on top level appointments in the Civil Service; if this group is still in existence; the purpose and role of this group; the number of members of the board of this group; the number of whom are appointed by himself; the person by whom the remaining board members are appointed; the expenditure of this group for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5354/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) was established on 3 January 1984.

Role of TLAC

The Committee's role is to recommend candidates to Ministers and Government for the most senior positions in the Civil Service at Assistant Secretary level and upwards. Subject to certain exclusions, TLAC deals with all posts at or above the level of Assistant Secretary or equivalent across the Civil Service. The Government is the appointing authority for posts at Secretary General level. In accordance with a decision of the Government, TLAC recommends up to three candidates, if found suitable, for posts at this level. The Government appoints the Secretary General from among the recommended candidates. In the case of posts below Secretary General level, e.g. Assistant Secretary posts, the appropriate Minister is the appointing authority. One candidate is recommended by TLAC to the Minister for appointment.

Membership of TLAC

The Taoiseach appoints the members of TLAC in consultation with the Minister for Finance. There are normally five members on the Committee, as follows:

Secretary General, Public Service Management and Development, Department of Finance (ex officio),

Secretary General to the Government, Department of the Taoiseach (ex officio),

A private sector member, appointed for a three year term, and

Two other Secretaries General, appointed for three year terms

One other Secretary General, where not already a member and where a post in his/her Department is being filled. Where the post being filled is below Secretary General level he/she is present as an observer but where his/her successor is being appointed he/she is a full member.

The expenditure of TLAC over the last five years was as follows:

TLAC Procedures and Practices

The Deputy should be aware that the TLAC Procedures and Practices are set out in detail, in a handbook that is available on my Department's Website at http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/ publications/other/tlacproc.pdf

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of board members of An Post National Lottery Company who are appointed by his Department; the person by whom the remaining board members are appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5355/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the National Lottery Act, 1986, all seven board members, including the Chairman, are appointed by the Minister for Finance. Four of the directors, including the Chairman, are nominated for appointment by An Post while three are both nominated and appointed by the Minister for Finance.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the date of establishment of customs consultative committee; if this group is still in existence; the purpose and role of this group; the number of members of the board of this group; the number of whom are appointed by himself; the person by whom the remaining board members are appointed; the expenditure of this group for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5356/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Customs Consultative Committee was established in 1994. It continues to meet about four times each year. The Committee's overall objective is to provide a two-way forum for Revenue and trade representative organisations to consult and exchange views on issues affecting the Customs treatment of imports and exports and, in particular, such issues arising at EU level. The Committee has been particularly beneficial in ensuring that changes in Community Customs Law, and Customs systems put in place by Revenue (such as the new Automated Entry Processing system introduced last year), facilitate legitimate trade to the greatest extent possible.

The organisations that participate in the work of the Committee are those whose members have regular and direct dealings with Customs. Participation is strictly in a representative role only and the members of the Committee effectively act as a conduit between Revenue and the members of their organisations that use the various Customs systems. As well as Revenue officials, the Committee is currently made up of representatives of twelve organisations. Each organisation has nominated their own representative to take part, on a representative basis, in the work of the Committee and neither myself, nor my Department, have any role in appointing members to the Committee.

There is no expenditure associated with this Committee other than the normal travel and subsistence expenses incurred by Revenue officials attending meetings of the Committee and minor incidentals associated with the running of meetings. In consultation with the members of the Committee, and as part of the normal process of ensuring that the contribution of the Committee remains relevant and beneficial, it was recently decided to carry out a review of the operation of the Committee and its membership.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the date of establishment of Irish Telecommunications Investment PLC; if this company is still in existence; the purpose and role of this company; the number of members of the board of this company; the number of whom are appointed by himself; the person by whom the remaining board members are appointed; the level of equity held by the Department within this company; the level of financing provided by the Government to this company for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5357/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Irish Telecommunications Investment Limited, ITI for short, was established as a wholly-owned state company by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs on 1 April 1981 to obtain funds to help finance the telecommunications development programme. Legislation at the time empowered the Minister for Finance to guarantee borrowings by the company within statutory limits and to hold shares in the company. After the establishment of Telecom Éireann in 1984, Irish Telecommunications Investment plc ("ITI") was a financing and treasury subsidiary of that company and was privatised along with the rest of the Group in 1999.

The Minister for Finance has no links with the company and does not hold an equity stake. There are no guarantees of the Minister for Finance outstanding in respect of ITI's borrowings. All loans in respect of which the Minister had extended guarantees were repaid by 2003. Neither the Department of Finance nor the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources provided financing to ITI during the last five years. The size of, and appointments to, its board area a matter for eircom.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the date of establishment of Sealúchais Árachais Teoranta; if this company is still in existence; the purpose and role of this company; the number of members of the board of this company; the number of whom are appointed by himself; the person by whom the remaining board members are appointed; the level of equity held by the Department within this company; the level of financing provided by the Government to this company for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5358/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Sealuchais Árachais Teoranta (SAT), a statutory company under the Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1985 acts as a non-trading holding company for Icarom plc (formerly the Insurance Corporation of Ireland) which is under administration. The two Directors of the company are officials of my Department. Under the provisions of the Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1985 I can appoint up to five Directors. Both Directors hold in trust for the Minister for Finance, the issued share capital in the company of one Ordinary Share of Euro 1.27 each.

No financing is provided by the Government to the company. Since the transfer of responsibility for the company to my Department from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment in 2004, fees of Euro 8,810 have been incurred by my Department in respect of registered office and company secretarial services to meet company law requirements. The Deputy may wish to note that Section 12 of the Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2007 provides for the shares held by SAT in Icarom to be transferred to the Minister for Finance and for the winding up of SAT in accordance with the Companies Acts.