Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of any texts relating to reform of the European Central Bank which he has circulated to other EU leaders at any point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18232/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has tabled any measures at the European Council or Eurogroup concerning the reform of the European Cental Bank. [16290/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 154 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the ECB is independent and this independence is set out in Article 282 (3) of the Treaty, which states that the European Central Bank "shall be independent in the exercise of its powers and in the management of its finances".

Currently there are no proposals on the table for reform of the European Central Bank and I have not tabled any such proposals.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Finance the nature and duration of all discussions he held with Mr. Mario Draghi previous to agreeing to his appointment as president of the European Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18233/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Finance the connections he has had with Mr. Mario Draghi prior to agreeing to his nomination as president of the European Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18389/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he is proposing regarding the handling by EU heads of State and Government of appointments to the European Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18395/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Finance the contacts he has had with other European leaders regarding the appointment of the next president of the European Central Bank. [15005/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has tabled any proposals regarding the work of the European Central Bank as part of the discussions regarding the appointment of its next president. [15006/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Finance the contacts he has had with persons who may be seeking the position of president of the European Central Bank. [15007/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will detail discussions which he held with nominees for the position of president of the European Central Bank prior to the European Council's decision on this matter. [16289/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 126, 128 and 150 to 153, inclusive, together.

The ECB is independent and this independence is set out in Article 282 (3) of the Treaty, which states that the European Central Bank "shall be independent in the exercise of its powers and in the management of its finances".

The Executive Board of the European Central Bank comprises the President, the Vice-President and four other members. This is set out in Article 283(2) of the Treaty and Article 11 of the Statute of the ECB. The members of the Board are appointed by the Heads of State or Government of the euro area Member States, acting by a qualified majority, "from among persons of recognised standing and professional experience in monetary or banking matters". They must be a national of a euro area Member State. They are independent and their term of office is eight years and is not renewable.

The appointment procedure is as follows: 1) the Ecofin Council makes a recommendation (only euro area Member States voting) to the European Council, following agreement at the Eurogroup meeting; 2) the European Parliament and the ECB are consulted , and 3) the European Council (only euro area Member States voting) adopt the decision .

On the 17th May the Ecofin Council made a Recommendation to appoint Mr Mario Draghi as the President of the European Central Bank for a term of office of eight years, with effect from 1 November 2011.

On 9th June the European Central Bank stated that they had no objection to the Council's Recommendation to appointment Mr. Mario Draghi as the President of the ECB.

On 23rd June MEPs endorsed the nomination of Mr. Draghi as incoming President of the European Central Bank.

On the 24th June the European Council formally appointed Mr Mario Draghi to be the next president of the European Central Bank.

I have had no discussions with nominees and have not tabled any proposals regarding the work of the European Central Bank as part of the discussions regarding the appointment of its next president. This issue was discussed during the Eurogroup meeting on 16th May, which I attended, with the European Council making the final decision at its meeting on the 24th June.