Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

739. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a list of all bodies, boards or committees under the remit of his Department to which ministerial appointments are made; the statutory provision providing for the making of such appointments in each case; the annual allowances or other payments made to the chairperson; the annual allowance or other payment made to an ordinary member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37487/13]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

740. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a list of the boards, bodies or committees under the remit of his Department where there is currently a vacancy to be filled by ministerial appointment; if so, if the vacancy relates to the chairperson or an ordinary member or members, specifying the number of vacancies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37502/13]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

741. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a list of the bodies, boards or committees under the remit of his Department where there is anticipated to be a vacancy within the next six months to be filled by ministerial appointment; if so, if the anticipated vacancy relates to the chairperson or an ordinary member or members, specifying the number of anticipated vacancies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37517/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 739, 740 and 741 together.

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table. As the Deputy will be aware, some members of boards are not entitled to claim fees due to the 'one salary ' rule. In addition, some board members have waived their fees on a voluntary basis.

I am working to reduce expenditure on board fees and, in this context, have taken a number of actions, including the introduction of a significant reform to end the payment of fees for all organisations under the aegis of my Department which were comprehended by the Government's Public Service Reform Plan. Arising from the Government decision of October 31st last, fees for membership of boards, committees and advisory councils at these organisations - where they previously applied - will not apply in the future and members will serve pro bono . Whilst legislative change will be required to implement this decision in a number of cases, I have written to the relevant organisations to ask them to implement this decision on an administrative basis pending statutory implementation. In addition, from January 2013 there has also been a reduction of 100% in fees for membership of the Irish Film Board.

In addition to the bodies listed below, responsibility for the Censorship of Publications Board and the Censorship of Publications Appeal Board has recently transferred to my Department. I am currently making appropriate arrangements to fill the vacancies on these boards.

For the sake of completeness, I should add that appointments to the North South Implementation Body, An Foras Teanga, comprising Foras na Gaeilge (16 members) and the Ulster-Scots Agency (8 members), are made by the North South Ministerial Council, arising from nominations on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction. Relevant board details, including fees, are published on the websites www.forasnagaeilge.ie and www.ulsterscotsagency.com.

* The Deputy should also note that, in the case of certain bodies in which board membership is to be reduced as part of the public service reform process, some of the vacancies indicated in the table above may not be filled in light of the plan.