Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 98: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will list the details of all State appointments open to direct choice by him on 10 March 2011. [9154/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are four bodies operating under the aegis of my Department to which I make appointments as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. These are: the Ireland - United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission); the Development Education Advisory Committee, the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group, and the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee.

The Fulbright Commission, while not a State body, was established on a statutory basis in 1991. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has certain specific statutory responsibilities in respect of the Commission, including the appointment of four of its eight member Board for a two-year period. In October 2010, the then Minister appointed three members to the Board. The fourth board member's term expires shortly.

The Government's Emigrant Services Advisory Committee was set up in 1984 to advise the Government on the welfare of the Irish community in Britain. The Committee has a membership of twelve persons. The Chair and Secretary are both officers of the Embassy in London, while the ten other Committee members serve in a voluntary capacity. Following the expiration of the term of the previous Committee on 31 December 2010, I appointed the ten voluntary members to the Committee on 11 April 2011, in consultation with Embassy London and the Irish Abroad Unit in my Department.

The Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC) was established in 2003 following the recommendations of the Ireland Aid Review Committee. It has ten members, eight of whom are appointed directly by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and two appointed on the nomination of other bodies. Its purpose is to advise the Minister, Minister of State and Irish Aid on policy regarding development education. In April 2010 the membership of the Committee was renewed by the then Minister for a further two-year term.

Acting on a recommendation contained in the Irish Aid Management Review adopted by the Government in 2009, an Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group (IAEAG) was established in 2010. The Group consists of seven members, six of whom are appointed directly by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and one on the nomination of another body. The role of the Group is to offer independent expert advice to the Minister and Minister of State on the strategic direction of the aid programme. Members of the Advisory Group were appointed by the then Minister in July 2010 for a three year term.