Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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229. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on the new procedures the Government have introduced for appointments to State boards. [3575/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In response to the Deputy's question the following appointments were made in respect of bodies under the aegis of my Department since March 2011.

Fiscal Advisory Council

The following people were appointed to the Fiscal Advisory Council on 7th July 2011:

Mr Sebastian Barnes

Professor Alan Barrett

Dr Donal Donovan

Professor John McHale, Chair

Dr Roisin O'Sullivan

As Minister for Finance I announced the establishment of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council on a non-statutory basis on 7 July 2011. When establishing the Council, I stated that the Council would be an independent body whose existence and independence would be underpinned by legislation to be brought forward by Government in the Fiscal Responsibility Bill.

The Chairman did not undergo interview by Oireachtas Committee but the Fiscal Council appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform on a number of occasions to discuss their fiscal assessment reports.

I appointed the members having regard to a number of criteria including the desirability of having a mix of appropriate backgrounds (academia, the financial sector/financial markets and public finance), macroeconomic/microeconomic expertise and a strong international dimension, as well as the need to take gender considerations into account. I am satisfied that the appointed members have the mix of skills and experience, including in relation to fiscal affairs, to ensure that the Council will be highly effective in fulfilling its mandate.

The Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012 was brought into legislative effect on 27th November 2012. The Council commenced on a Statutory basis from the 31st December 2012. The membership remain the same as above.

National Asset Management Agency

Mr John Mulcahy was appointed to the Board of the National Asset Management Agency. He was not appointed under the new procedures for board appointments. His appointment was a National Asset Management Agency Executive Appointment. Mr Mulcahy is head of Asset Management within the National Asset Management Agency.

Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC)

All appointments to the IBRC Board of Directors are made with the approval of the Minister for Finance in accordance with the provisions of the relationship framework between the Minister and the Bank.

Since March 2011 IBRC has made the following Board appointments:

Oliver Ellingham - Appointed 14 October 2011

Roger McGreal - Appointed 15 November 2011

Alan Ridgway - Appointed 9 August 2012

Maurice Horan - Appointed 9 August 2012

Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo)

New procedures were used in establishing ReBo which was set up on an administrative basis on 31 August 2012. The Credit Union and Co-operation with Overseas Regulators Act 2012 has, from 1 January 2013 placed ReBo on a statutory footing. ReBo's main function is to facilitate and support the restructuring process for credit unions which is to be completed on a voluntary, incentivised and time bound basis.

To identify suitable independent members the Department publicly advertised for expressions of interest. Eligible persons required expertise and experience at a senior level in a number of areas. Over 100 expressions of interest were received and a number of candidates were interviewed by the Department. Following this process, suitable candidates were invited to become members of Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo). The Board also comprises representatives from the credit union sector, the Department of Finance and the Central Bank of Ireland.

The following people were appointed to the Board of ReBo:

Mr Bobby McVeigh - Chairman

Mr Brendan Burke

Mr Tom Kavanagh

Mr Eoin McGettigan

Mr Stephen O'Donovan

Ms Kathleen Prendergast

Mr Joe O'Toole

Mr Pat Fay - Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU)

Mr Jimmy Johnstone - Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU)

Mr Kevin Johnson - Credit Union Development Association (CUDA)

Mr Tim Molan - Credit Union Managers Association (CUMA)

Mr Neil Ryan - Assistant Secretary, Financial Services Division, Department of Finance

Ms Elaine Byrne - Deputy Head, Registrar of Credit Unions

The State Claims Policy Committee

The following people were appointed to the State Claims Agency Policy Committee with effect from 1 July 2012

Ms Wendy Thompson

Mr Charlie Hardy

Mr Fachtna Murphy

The appointments were made using the new procedures in place for making appointments to boards.

In addition Dr Noel Whelan was reappointed as Chairman on 1 July 2012.

National Treasury Management Agency Advisory Committee

Mr. John Moran Secretary General of the Department of Finance was appointed to the board the National Treasury Management Agency Committee on 6 March 2012.

The new procedures were not used as it has been the norm to appoint the Secretary General of the Department of Finance to the Advisory Committee since the establishment of the National Treasury Management Agency.

Board of the National Development Finance Agency

In relation to the Board of the National Development Finance Agency the following appointments were made in July 2012 using the new procedures:

Mr Gerry Murray

Ms Petrina Smyth

In addition, Mr. Robert Watt Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was appointed to the board in July 2012.