Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 88: To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide a breakdown of the number of appointments that have been made to State boards by him since he took office, including the names of the appointees and the boards they have been appointed to; the number of these appointments that have been made using new procedures involving the advertising of such posts on his Department's websites and the interview of the chairperson of boards by Oireachtas committee; if he will highlight situations in which this process has not occurred; and the reason it has not occurred in each case. [5051/12]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) is an advisory Council which provides guidance to Government on strategic issues for Ireland's economic and social development. Details of the appointments I have made to the NESC since coming into office on 9 March, 2011 are set out in the accompanying table.

The appointments were made in accordance with the provisions of the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 as amended by the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010. In the particular case of the NESC, I should emphasise that most of the members are appointed on the basis of nominations received from representative organisations. Historically, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson posts are filled from my Department at Secretary General and Assistant Secretary level. I am satisfied that the other appointments were appropriate, bearing in mind the key strategic role of the NESC.

Table : Appointments by the Taoiseach to the National Economic and Social Council