Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will list all appointments made by him between the 14 of December 2010 to the 13 of January 2011 to State boards, agencies, quangos, bodies, authorities and other bodies within the aegis of his Department; the person appointed in each such case; the remuneration associated with the position; the selection process employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1873/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department.

The Social Welfare Tribunal

There were no new appointments to the Social Welfare Tribunal during the period 14 December 2010 to 13 January 2011. The current members of the Tribunal were appointed on 5 October 2009 and are not due for renewal until 4 October 2012.

Citizens Information Board

I appointed Mr Sean Sweeney to the Board of the Citizens Information Board (CIB) on 16 December 2010 in a non-executive capacity.

The annual stipend paid to non-executive board members of CIB is €5,985, in line with Government directives on the classification of fees for chairpersons and non-executive directors of state bodies. All appointments are made by me and the legislative provisions governing board membership of the CIB are contained in the Comhairle Act, 2000 and the Citizens Information Act 2007. The legislation provides that: · The Board shall consist of 15 members · 1 member of the Board shall be designated as chairperson; · The period of membership shall not exceed 5 years · The members of the Board shall include 1 officer of the Minister, 3 members representative of people with disabilities and 1 member of the staff of the Board. · Not less than 6 members of the Board shall be female and not less than 6 shall be male.

The legislation also provides that a member of the board whose period of membership expires by the effluxion of time (passing of 5 year term) shall be eligible for re-appointment as a member of the board.

No further appointments to the board are anticipated in advance of March 2012, in line with the orderly rotation of the board.

The Pensions Board

The outgoing Pensions Board completed its term on 20 December 2010. The following is a list of appointments made by me to The Pensions Board on 21 December 2010. Ms. Jane Williams (Chairperson) 1 Mr. Niall Walsh 2 Ms. Rosalind Briggs 3 Ms. Emer O Flanagan 4 Mr. David Owens 5 Ms. Patricia Murphy 6

Ms. Noreen Deegan

Mr. Kevin Finucane

Mr. Brendan Johnston

Prof. John McHale

Mr. Terence Noone

Mr. Don O'Higgins

Mr. Phelim O Reilly

Ms. Rachael Ryan

Ms. Mary Walsh

Mr. Robin Webster

Notes 1Re-appointment as Chairperson.

2 Re-appointment as ordinary member.

3Re-appointment as ordinary member.

4 Re-appointment as ordinary member.

5Re-appointment as ordinary member, no remuneration attached to this position.

6No remuneration attached to this position

The annual stipend associated with each position is as follows,

Chairperson: €11,970

Ordinary members: €7,695

David Owens, Department of Finance and Patricia Murphy, Department of Social Protection do not receive a stipend.

Section 9 of the Pensions Act 1990 as amended and the First Schedule to the Act, provides that the Board shall consist of a Chairman and 16 ordinary members, who shall be appointed to the Board by the Minister. Section 10 of the Pensions Act 1990 as amended and the First Schedule to the Act, provides that the term of office of the Chairman and the Board Members shall be for a period not exceeding 5 years.

The Pensions Board is a representative body and while all of its members are appointed by the Minister for Social Protection, the Pensions Act provides that of the 16 ordinary members, the Board must comprise representatives of;

Trade Union Members,

Employers,

Occupational Pension Schemes,

The Actuarial Profession,

The Accounting Profession,

The Legal Profession,

Consumer Interests,

Pensioner Interests,

The Minister for Finance, and

The Minister for Social Protection.

Office of the Pensions Ombudsman

There were no appointments due to be made by me in respect of the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman during the period specified.