Written answers

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Appointments to State Boards

8:00 pm

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 513: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his policy on appointments to State boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11086/12]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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All appointments to boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments to each body. In considering applications due regard is had to Government policy regarding gender balance on State Boards.

A number of different statutory processes are involved in appointments to State boards. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Government or by me as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. In a number of situations, only some appointments to the body concerned are made by me, or appointments are made with the consent of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Boards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and An Bord Pleanála are executive in nature and members are employed on a full time salaried basis. The appointments as Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála and Director General of the EPA were made after competitions held by the Public Appointments Service.

The Board Members of the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (HSCA) have been re-appointed on an interim basis pending enactment of legislation in respect of the HSCA.

A notice was placed on my Department's website on 19 July, 2011 seeking expressions of interest, from suitably qualified and experienced persons, for consideration as members or chairpersons of the boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department. The notice is updated as specific vacancies arise.

Vacancies on the boards of other bodies under the Department's aegis will be notified on the website as they arise. However, expressions of interest can be made at any time and will be kept on file in my Department for consideration as vacancies occur.

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