Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the number of organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department that have vacancies on their board; the length of time any such vacancies have been unfilled; the number of vacancies that have been advertised; the number of applications to fill such vacancies that have been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4860/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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There are no state agencies or bodies operating under the aegis of my Department. Set out as follows are the details of one advisory committee and one commission which operate under the auspices of my Department that have vacancies.

Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as the Dion Committee)

The primary role of Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (ESAC)is to advise the Tánaiste on the allocation of grants to Irish community organisations in Britain under the Emigrant Support Programme. The Committee consists of thirteen members, including two officers from our Embassy in London who act as Chair and Secretary to the Committee. The members, who were appointed following consultation with our Embassy in London and the Irish Abroad Unit of the Department, were appointed for a two year period which expired on 31 December 2012. The constitution of the Committee for the 2013/2014 period is now being considered by the Tánaiste.

The Board of the Ireland –United States Commission for Educational Exchange ( the Fulbright Commission)

The Fulbright Commission has a unique status in that it was established pursuant to an international agreement, is funded jointly with the US Government and is therefore not a body solely under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Under the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the USA) Act 1991, the Commission consists of 8 members, of whom the legislation specifies four should be Irish citizens appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and four should be citizens of the US and appointed by the US Ambassador. Two vacancies on the Board arose in December 2012, one in November 2012 and one in May 2011. The process to nominate the four Irish members is at an advanced stage and should be completed by early February. The Commission has autonomy of management and administration under the Statute.