Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of any former Government officeholder appointed by him in the past ten years to any position; the details of such appointment to include position taken, name of organisation, salary or income derived or expenses claimed per annum, any other additional benefits including car provided, travel costs per annum, terms of office and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17699/10]

Micheál 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. There are no former office holders serving on any of these bodies.

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).

Having examined the membership of the relevant boards for the period in question I can confirm that 4 former Government Office holders held positions as board members. Details are provided below.

Former Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Joe Walsh was appointed to the Government's Hunger Task Force in the period 2007 and 2008. During that time he received a total payment and expenses of €11,662.

Former Ministers Mr. Desmond O'Malley and Mr. David Andrews and former Minister of State, Mr. Chris Flood served on the Advisory Board for Irish Aid (ABIA). Mr. O'Malley served on the Board from 2002-2005 and both Mr. Flood and Mr. Andrews served on the Board from 2002 until 2008 when the Board's mandate expired. Members of ABIA served in a voluntary capacity and received no payment. Travel and incidental expenses related to Board business were paid directly by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the relevant service providers.