Written answers

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Department of Foreign Affairs

Appointments to State Boards

9:00 pm

Photo of George LeeGeorge Lee (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the names and addresses of all nominees to bodies or agencies under the remit of his Department that were appointed since 26 June 1997, detailing by whom they were appointed; when they were appointed; the amount paid by the Exchequer to each nominee each year from 1997 to 2009 broken down into income, expenses, overtime and any other relevant category; the money paid by his Department each year from 1997 to 2009 to cover expenses or incidentals related to the nominees, such as accommodation, travel and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5663/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently four bodies, which operate under the aegis of my Department: the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon); the Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland — United States Commission for Educational Exchange); and the Audit Committee of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Seven other bodies, which are no longer operating, operated during the period in question: The Hunger Task Force; the Advisory Board for Irish Aid (ABIA); The Irish Aid Advisory Committee (IAAC); the Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO); The Irish Refugee Agency; The National Committee for Development Education (NCDE), and The Cultural Relations Committee (CRC). Information on each of eleven bodies is provided below. In some instances it has not been possible to provide full details in relation to remuneration and expenses in the time provided as this would have required retrieving archived material.

The Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC) was established by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2003 following the recommendations of the Ireland Aid Review Committee. Its purpose is to advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State for Overseas Development on development education policy. All members are appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and serve for a period of two years. All members serve in a voluntary capacity, and the committee is serviced by the Department of Foreign Affairs from the Department's overall budget.

YearBoard MembersTotal Board Expenses
€
2003-2004Professor Peadar CreminNil
Mr. Michael Doorly
Ms June Barry
Fr. PJ Gormley
Mr Hugh O'Neill, replaced in July 2003 by Dr. Robert Kirkpatrick
Ms Frances Leahy, replaced in August 2003 by Mr. Peter Johnson
Rev. Sahr Yambasu
Ms Alisa Keane
Ms Annette Honan, replaced in May 2003 by Ms. Morina O'Neill
2005-2007Professor Peadar Cremin59.00
Mr. Michael Doorly
Mr. Brendan Hester
Ms June Barry
Ms Moira Leydon
Dr. Robert Kirkpatrick
Mr. Peter Johnson
Mr. Liam Kilbride
Mr. David Joyce
Dr. Colm Regan
Ms Mary McGillicuddy
Mr. John Daly
Dr. David Irwin
Professor Sheelagh Drudy
Mr. Conor Sludds
Ms Mercy Ebun Peters
2007-2009Professor Peadar Cremin692.30
Ms Maria Barry, replaced in 2009 by Mr. John Smith
Mr. Patsy Toland
Ms Sarah Kelleher
Dr. Robert Kirkpatrick
Mr. Peter Johnson, replaced in 2009 by Ms. Cliona O'Keeffe
Mr. Eamon Kinch
Dr. Colm Regan
Mr. Stephen McCloskey
Dr. Su-Ming Khoo
Professor Sheelagh Drudy

The Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) (previously known as the Díon Committee) 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 the Minister on the allocation of grants under the Emigrant Support Programme, which supports Irish community organisations abroad. In February 2003, the budgetary allocation for Emigrant Services was transferred from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Administration for the Committee is provided by our Embassy in London.

There are currently 12 members of the Committee, including two officials from the Embassy of Ireland in London. Current Committee members are all resident in Britain and can be contacted through the Embassy of Ireland in London. Committee members serve in a voluntary capacity and receive no payment for their time or expertise, although vouched travel and accommodation costs associated with attendance at meetings are met by the Department. All members of the Committee are appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

YearBoard MembersTotal committee expenses
€
2003Michael Forde (Irish World Heritage Centre, Manchester)3,410
Dr Breda Gray (University of Limerick)
Dr. Theresa Joyce (Consultant Clinical Psychologist)
Jim O'Hara (Chair, Irish Youth Foundation (UK)
Catherine Quinn (Eastern Health Board, Dublin)
2004Michael Forde4,055
Dr. Breda Gray
Dr. Theresa Joyce
Jim O'Hara
Catherine Quinn
Seamus McGarry (Ireland Fund of Great Britain.)
2005As 20042,113
2006As 20044,497
2007As 20044,237
2008Tony Corcoran (Tyneside Irish Festival)1,178
Tony Cusack (Irish Centre in Leicester)
Martin Donnelly (Credit Suisse)
Des Hurley (Irish Arts Foundation, Leeds)
Michael Forde
Dr. Theresa Joyce
Séamus McGarry
Breege McDaid (Irish Community Care Merseyside)
Councillor Sally Mulready (London Borough of Hackney)
Jim O'Hara (Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith)
2009Tony Corcoran1,020
Tony Cusack
Martin Donnelly
Des Hurley
Michael Forde
Breege McDaid
Séamus McGarry
Sally Mulready
Bridie Nugent (former Director of the Irish Welfare and Information Centre, Birmingham)
Jim O'Hara

The Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland — United States Commission for Educational Exchange) was established under the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America), Act, 1991. The Commission finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and the United States of America. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have some statutory obligations in regard to this organisation, including the appointment of four members of the eight-member Commission, who serve in a voluntary capacity. The other four members are appointed by the US Government through their Embassy in Dublin. The Commission is financed jointly by the Irish and US Governments but it enjoys autonomy of management and administration in accordance with the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991. Funding from my Department to the Commission is made from a grant-in-aid. The payment of expenses or other payments to board members is solely a matter for the Commission itself. A copy of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and of the audited accounts of the Ireland — United States Educational Fund are lodged with the both Houses of the Oireachtas annually.

YearBoard Members nominated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs
1996-98Brian Farrell — Director, Institute of European Affairs
Ms. Ann Fuller — Administrator, Guardian Dublin International Piano Competition
Dr. Yvonne Scannell — Senior Lecturer, Law Dept., TCD
Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh — Professor of History, UCG
1998-00Dr. Maurice Bric — History Department, UCD
Ms. Ann Fuller — Administrator, Guardian Dublin International Piano Competition
Mr. Mark Ryan — Andersen Consulting
Ms. Helena Carty
2000-02Dr. Maurice Bric — History Department, UCD
Dr. Ruth Barrington — Chief Executive, Health Research Board
Dr. Don Thornhill — Higher Education Authority
Prof. Patrick Fottrell — Former President, NUI Galway
2002-04Dr. Don Thornhill — Higher Education Authority
Prof. Patrick Fottrell — Former President, NUI Galway
Prof. Joyce O'Connor — President, National College of Ireland
Prof. Brian Hillery — Emeritus Professor, Graduate School of Business, UCD
2004-06Dr. Don Thornhill — Higher Education Authority
Prof. Joyce O'Connor — President, National College of Ireland
Ms. Una Halligan — Government and Public Affairs Director, HP
2005-07Dr. Tom Collins — Director, Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT)
2006-08Ms. Una Halligan — Government and Public Affairs Director, HP
Mr. Tom Boland — CEO, Higher Education Authority
Ms. Katherine Keogh — Childhood Development Initiative, Tallaght
2007-09Dr. Peter Connolly — former CEO Louth VEC
2008-10Ms. Una Halligan — Government and Public Affairs Director, HP
Dr. Maurice Bric — History Department, UCD
Prof. Geraldine McCarthy — School of Nursing, UCC
2009-11Prof. Timothy O'Brien — REMEDI, NUI Galway

The Audit Committee of the Department of Foreign Affairs was established in November 2003 on foot of recommendations by the Mullarkey Report on strengthening governance arrangements in Government Departments and Offices. Members of the Audit Committee are wholly independent and drawn from outside the Department of Foreign Affairs. They are appointed by the Secretary General of the Department. All work is done on a voluntary basis. If a trip is made overseas in the course of their Committee work, any accommodation and miscellaneous expenses incurred by the Committee is reimbursed by Irish Aid.

YearBoard Members
2003-NovFr. Gerard O'Connor
Mr. John S. Pittock
Professor John A. Jackson
2004Fr. Gerard O'Connor
Mr. John S. Pittock
Professor John A. Jackson
2004-JuneMs. Valerie Little
2005Fr. Gerard O'Connor
Mr. John S. Pittock
Ms. Valerie Little
Professor John A. Jackson
2006Fr. Gerard O'Connor
Mr. John S. Pittock
Ms. Valerie Little
Professor John A. Jackson
2006-JuneMr. Michael Scott
2007Fr. Gerard O'Connor
Mr. John S. Pittock
Professsor John A. Jackson
Ms. Valerie Little
Mr. Michael Scott
2008Fr. Gerard O'Connor
Mr. John S. Pittock
Ms. Valerie Little
Mr. Michael Scott
2008- JanDr.Richard Boyle
Mr. Philip Furlong
2009Fr. Gerard O'Connor
Mr. John S. Pittock
Mr. Michael Scott
Dr.Richard Boyle
Mr. Philip Furlong
2009-JulyMs. Maura Quinn

The following organisations have been abolished or replaced by other bodies.

The Government's Hunger Task Force was appointed in 2007 following a recommendation in the 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid . The aim of the Hunger Task Force was to identify the additional, appropriate and effective contributions that Ireland can make to international efforts to reduce hunger. The Task Force had 16 members and held its first meeting on 14 September 2007. All members of the Task Force were appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and received payment and expenses as outlined below. It reported in September 2008, outlining a number of key actions which Ireland can take to give practical leadership internationally on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal to halve the proportion of people suffering from hunger by 2015.

Six further people were also members of the Hunger Task Force but received no direct payment for their involvement. Some of their costs were directly covered by the Department as part of the overall expenses of the Hunger Task Force. They were Mr Paul Hewson (Bono), Ms Josette Sheeran, Ms Sheila Sisulu, Mr. Brendan McMahon and Mr Aidan O'Driscoll. The last two are serving civil servants.

YearBoard MembersPaymentExpensesOther payment
€€€
2007Kevin FarrellNil3,190Nil
Jeffery SachsNil1,919Nil
Nancy AburiNil5,673Nil
Joe WalshNil129Nil
Michael GibneyNil264Nil
Other Expenses of HTF in 2007Nil14,812Nil
2008Nancy Aburi10,0008,718Nil
Kevin Farrell10,0005,286Nil
Michael Gibney10,0004,984Nil
Lawrence Haddad10,0001,012Nil
Justin Kilcullen10,0008,753Nil
Joe Walsh10,0001,533Nil
Tom Arnold10,000NilNil
Jeffery Sachs10,000NilNil
Dr Pamela Anderson10,00010,292Nil
Other Expenses of HTF in 2008Nil53,16073,931**
2009Denis Lucey*10,0008,334Nil
*Payment relates to 2008; ** Includes publication related costs.

The Advisory Board for Irish Aid (ABIA), which replaced the Irish Aid Advisory Committee (IAAC), 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. All members of the Board were appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The principal expenditure of the Advisory Board related to commissioning research, but also covered a number of incidental expenses. The Board ceased to operate on October 31st 2008 when the Board's term ended.

YearBoard Members
2002 – 2005Mr. Desmond O'Malley
Mr. Chris Flood
Mr. David Andrews
Mr. David Begg
Ms. Sally O'Neill
Ms. Lorraine Sweeney
Mr. Larry O' Loughlin
Mr. Howard Dalzell
Fr. Gerard O'Connor
Mr. Jerry Liston
Ms. Morina O'Neill
Mr. Padraig McManus
2005 – 2008Mr. Denis Cahalane
Dr. Abdullahi El-Tom
Ms. Detta Fanning
Ms. Fumi Anike Guiwa-Byrne
Mr. Eamonn Meehan
Ms. Anne O'Mahony
Ms. Maura Quinn

The Irish Aid Advisory Committee (IAAC) was in existence between 1993 and 2002. Its purpose was to provide advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the strategic direction of the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. The IAAC had 14 Committee members. All members of the Board were appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO) was established in 1973 as a semi-state body operating under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs, with a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. All members of the Board served in a voluntary capacity and received no remuneration other than vouched expenses with the exception of the Chairperson who in 2002 was Acting Chief Executive and received a salary of €22,277. The following is a list of the Board of Directors of APSO as at 31 December for each of the years from 1997 until its integration into the Department of Foreign Affairs on 1 January 2004 which also includes the annual Board costs.

NameRelevant Qualifications/Background
31 December 1997Total Board expenses €1,301
Mr. Howard DalzellDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Mairéad HayesHuman Resources, Aer Lingus
Dr. Anthony ClareMedical Director, St. Patrick's Hospital
Mr. Paul CullenCivil Servant
Ms. Philomena MurnaghanCivil Servant
Fr. Des McGillicuddyJustice and Development Officer, Irish Missionary Union
Ms. Anne ConnollyManagement Consultant
Ms. June CarrStaff Nominee
Mr. Robin HananDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Mary SweeneyDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Maeve HealyFinancial Sector
31 December 1998Total annual Board expenses: €4,711
Mr. Howard. DalzellDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Mairéad HayesHuman Resources, Aer Lingus
Dr. Anthony ClareMedical Director, St. Patrick's Hospital
Mr. Paul CullenCivil Servant
Ms. Philomena. MurnaghanCivil Servant
Fr. Des McGillicuddyJustice and Development Officer, Irish Missionary Union
Ms. Anne ConnollyManagement Consultant
Ms. June CarrStaff Nominee
Mr. Robin HananDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Mary SweeneyDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Maeve HealyFinancial Sector
31 December 1999Total annual Board expenses: €6,557
Mr. Howard DalzellDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Mairéad HayesHuman Resources, Aer Lingus
Mr. Aidan EamesSolicitor
Mr. Paul CullenCivil Servant
Ms. Philomena MurnaghanCivil Servant
Fr. Des McGillicuddyJustice and Development Officer, Irish Missionary Union
Ms. Anne ConnollyManagement Consultant
Ms. June CarrStaff Nominee
Mr. Robin HananDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Mary SweeneyDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Maeve HealyFinancial Sector
31 December 2000Total annual Board expenses: €2,744
Ms. Mairéad. HayesHuman Resources, Aer Lingus
Mr. Aidan. EamesSolicitor
Fr. Des McGillicuddyJustice and Development Officer, Irish Missionary Union
Mr. Paul CullenCivil Servant
Ms. Dónal MacDonaldStaff Nominee
Mr. Robin HananDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Mary SweeneyDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Mr. Brendan RogersCivil Servant
Mr. Mick KielyDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Maeve HealyFinancial Sector
Mr. Seán BurkeAccountant
31 December 2001Total annual Board expenses: €12,462
Ms. Mairéad HayesHuman Resources, Aer Lingus
Mr. Aidan EamesSolicitor
Mr. Brendan RogersCivil Servant
Mr. Dónal MacDonaldStaff Nominee
Mr. Robin HananDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Ms. Mary SweeneyDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Mr. Mick KielyDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Mr. Seán BurkeAccountant
Sr. Teresa WalshMissionary (MSHR)
Sr. Margaret QuinnMissionary (MMM)
Ms. Maeve HealyFinancial Sector
31 December 2002Total annual Board expenses: €23,895
Mr. Aidan EamesSolicitor
Mr. Brendan RogersCivil Servant
Mr. Dónal MacDonaldStaff Nominee
Ms. Mary SweeneyDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Mr. Mick KielyDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Mr. Sean BurkeAccountant
Sr. Teresa WalshMissionary (MSHR)
Sr. Margaret QuinnMissionary (MMM)
Mr. Joseph O'HaraLecturer
Mr. John MurphyFinancial Consultant
31 December 2003Total annual Board expenses: €2,849
Mr. Aidan EamesSolicitor
Mr. Pat BourneCivil Servant
Ms. Catherine BoylanStaff Nominee
Ms. Mary SweeneyDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Mr. Mick KielyDevelopment Non-Governmental Organisation
Mr. Seán BurkeAccountant
Sr. Teresa WalshMissionary (MSHR)
Sr. Margaret QuinnMissionary (MMM)
Mr. Joseph O'HaraLecturer
Mr. John MurphyFinancial Consultant
Mr. Aidan O'ConnorEngineer

The Irish Refugee Agency was created in 1991 to assist with the integration of Vietnamese refugees in Ireland and it subsequently assisted with Bosnian and Kosovar refugees. In 2001, following the recommendations in the report of the Interdepartmental Group on the Integration of Refugees in Ireland, the Government decided to replace the existing structures for dealing with refugees (including the Refugee Agency) with the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In 2001, the year of it's abolition, the Irish Refugee Agency had 13 board members.

The National Committee for Development Education (NCDE) was established in 1994. In December 2002 the NCDE was abolished and its functions were assumed by Irish Aid in line with the recommendations of the Ireland Aid Review Committee.

The Cultural Relations Committee (CRC) was established in 1949 under the aegis of the then Department of External Affairs and was transferred from the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in 2002. The CRC has been succeeded by Culture Ireland which was established under the aegis of the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in 2005.

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