Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health when he plans to fill the four seats vacant since May on the board of Health Information and Quality Authority; if he will outline the process that is being undertaken to fill the posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55378/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this year, I instructed my officials to seek nominations, through the Public Appointments Service, for the filling of vacancies on the Health Information and Quality Authority Board. I am currently giving further consideration to the filling of these vacancies.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if it is his intention to fill the seven vacancies on the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal; if so, if he will outline the process that is being undertaken to fill these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55379/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I appoint the members of the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal in accordance with Section 3 of the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act l997.

The Tribunal carries out judicial type functions and is therefore very different to a typical State Board. It hears claims in relation to persons infected with Hepatitis C or HIV through the administration within the State of infected blood or blood products. Claims are dealt with by the Tribunal by way of an in camera oral hearing before two members of the Tribunal and the Chairperson. The Tribunal was set up in order that claimants could have their cases heard in a confidential, person centred, fashion. Ministerial appointments to the Tribunal are made on the advice of the Attorney General and I have received the Attorney's advice in relation to the seven vacancies. I intend to appoint members as quickly as possible.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health when he will fill the five seats on the board of the Health Research Board; if he will outline the process that is being undertaken to fill these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55380/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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There are currently five vacancies on the Health Research Board. The HRB vacancies were advertised on the Public Appointments Service (PAS) website and on the Department’s website. I expect to be in a position to formally appoint members to the Board this week.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health when the six posts on the board of the Food Safety Authority will be filled; if he will outline the process that is being undertaken to fill these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55381/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this year, I instructed my officials to seek nominations, through the Public Appointments Service, for the filling of vacancies on the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Board. I am currently giving further consideration to the filling of these vacancies.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the status of the vacancy on the board of the Voluntary Health Insurance; if he will outline the process that is being undertaken to fill this posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55382/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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There is one vacancy on the Voluntary Health Insurance Board. This vacancy arises from the appointment of a serving Board member as Chairman of the Board in September 2012.

In accordance with Government policy regarding appointments to State Boards, an advertisement for this position was placed on my Department's web-site on 28 September 2012. Expressions of interest were sought by persons with skills and experience which are relevant to the functions of the Voluntary Health Insurance Board.

The closing date for receipt of expressions of interest has now passed, and I am now in receipt of details and experience of all applicants. I propose to give full consideration to all applications shortly, having regard to the particular functions of the VHI, ensuring that the overall composition of the Board contains an appropriate mix of skills and experience in such areas as corporate governance, legal expertise, and financial expertise.

When the selection process is complete, approval of the Central Bank of Ireland in the context of its Fitness and Probity regime will be sought for the proposed appointee prior to appointment.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the vacancy on the Options Board; if he will outline the process that is being undertaken to fill this post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55383/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Opticians Board. A nomination has been received from the Irish College of Ophthalmologists to fill the vacancy. This is currently under consideration and it is expected that an appointment will be made shortly.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if it is his intention to fill the two seats on the Health and Social Care Professionals Board; if so, if he will outline the process that is being undertaken to fill these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55384/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Health and Social Care Professionals Council, established in 2007, and the 12 registration boards being established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (the Act), will be responsible for protecting the public by regulating health and social care professionals in Ireland. The object of the Council is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence among the registrants of the 12 health and social care professions designated under the Act.

Under the Act, membership of the Council consists of a Chairperson, who is not eligible to be a registrant, and 24 ordinary members, 12 each from a professional and lay background.

Expressions of interest in being appointed by me to two lay vacancies on the Council have been invited on my Department's website and by the Public Appointments Service. The appointees will represent the views of the general public and will be appointed with the consent of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

I hope to be in a position to fill these vacancies shortly.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the reason the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council has not had its seventeen members replaced since June; if he will outline his plans for the council and if he intends to replace the members, the process that is being undertaken to fill these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55385/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The current term of the Council of PHECC expired at the end of June 2012.

The Council may have up to 17 members. Nine members are nominated by designated bodies and seven more must be clinicians or others with specific interest and expertise in the area. The remaining member is a public interest representative.

I have made the appointments as recommended.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the intake of the twenty two new members that were due to be introduced to the Nursing and Midwifery Board; if he intends to fill these posts, if he will outline the process that is being undertaken to fill them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55386/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Section 22 of the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011 provides for the appointment of 23 members to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. 14 of the appointees are on the nomination of specified bodies with 3 more appointed in consultation with the HSE, Irish Universities Association and the Institutes of Technology Ireland. Following on from Government Decision S180/20/10/1424 of 2011 in relation to appointments to State boards, my Department advertised for expressions of interest for the remaining 6 posts in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service.

To date, 18 positions have been filled, with the remaining 5 under consideration.