Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will ensure that all appointments to State bodies would be considered by the Oireachtas committee. [15661/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The arrangements for appointments to the boards of State bodies are normally set out in the legislation establishing the bodies in question and are designed to ensure the efficient management of the organisation. Appointments to the boards are generally made by the Minister with responsibility for the body in question, subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance. In making appointments, Ministers seek to ensure that the people appointed bring a diverse range of relevant skills and experiences to the body. Ministers also take account of any specific legislative or policy requirements such as those contained in the Workers Participation (State Enterprises) Acts or the Government's policy on gender balance on the boards of State bodies.

Where appropriate, Ministers may also consider representation from the different strands of society such as the business community, consumers, trades unions or the other social partners. Government and Ministerial appointments are published in the Iris Oifigiúil as soon as can be arranged following the appointment. The Government Secretariat arranges for publication of appointments made by the Government, while it is the responsibility of individual Departments to publish appointments made by a Minister. I am generally happy that the present arrangements, which follow the practice of previous Governments, work well and that people with the required skills and experience are appointed to State boards. Nevertheless I recognise that it might be useful to give some thought to involving committees of the House in appointments to some boards. This is an issue that some of my colleagues have been looking at in relation to boards under their remit.