Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 466: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the appointees to agencies of his Department made by the previous Minister from March 2007 to May 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27440/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are no agencies operating under the responsibility of my Department. However, there are three Advisory Committees and one Educational Commission, which operate under the aegis of the Department. All individuals who serve on these four bodies do so in a voluntary capacity. Details on these four bodies are set out in this answer.

The Development Education Advisory Committee was established in 2003 following the recommendations of the Ireland Aid Review Committee. Its purpose is to advise the Minister, Minister of State and Irish Aid on policy regarding development education. The current Committee of eleven members was appointed in November 2007 for a term of two years. Its members are:

Peadar Cremin, (Chair) President Mary Immaculate College Limerick

Maria Barry, Director of Education, Trócaire

Sheelagh Drudy, Professor of Education, University College Dublin

Sarah Kelleher, Director, Lourdes Youth and Community Services

Su-Ming Khoo, Lecturer, National University of Ireland Galway

Eamon Kinch, Chairman, Léargas

Stephen McCloskey, Director, Centre for Global Education Belfast

Colm Regan, Director, 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World

Patsy Toland, Convenor, Irish Development Education Association

Peter Johnson — nominee of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

Robert Kirkpatrick — nominee of the Department of Education and Science.

The Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon) was set up in 1984 to advise the Government on the welfare of the Irish community in Britain. The Committee's primary role is to advise on the distribution of Government support to voluntary agencies providing front line services and community care to Irish people in Britain. The Committee has recently been enlarged and restructured to ensure it is more regionally-balanced than heretofore. In addition to the Chair and Secretary, who are officers of the Embassy in London, the persons appointed to Committee by my predecessor in April 2008 are:

Mr. Michael Forde, Manchester

Ms. Theresa Joyce, Surrey

Mr. Jim O'Hara, Surrey

Mr. Seamus McGarry, Hertfordshire

Ms. Sally Mulready, London

Mr. Tony Cusack, Leicester

Ms. Breege McDaid, Liverpool

Mr. Tony Corcoran, Newcastle upon Tyne

Mr. Des Hurley, Leeds

Mr. Martin Donnelly, London

The Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland — United States Commission for Educational Exchange) finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and the United States of America. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has responsibility for the appointment of four members of the eight-member Commission. There was one appointment made by my predecessor during the period in question which was the appointment in May 2007 of:

Dr Peter Connelly, Former CEO Louth VEC.

The Advisory Board for Irish Aid was established in August 2002 to provide general oversight and advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State for Overseas Development on the strategic direction of the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. The Board was reconstituted in November 2005 with a membership of sixteen. Members were appointed for a three year term. There were no appointments made by my predecessor to the Board between March 2007 and May 2008.