Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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382. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will itemise in tabular form the occasions on which his Department has engaged the services of external professional advice such as a company (details supplied) on the appointment of persons to State boards; if he will list the fees paid in respect of such services; the persons who were ultimately appointed on foot of advice received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4983/14]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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383. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will identify any instances where a person appointed to a State board after recruitment advice was received from professional external consultants was subsequently deemed to be unqualified for the duties and responsibilities attached to the role; the costs incurred in obtaining advice in respect of each such instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4999/14]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.

This Government has made changes in relation to appointments to State Boards and bodies with new arrangements involving advertisement of vacancies for applications from suitably qualified candidates and, in accordance with the government Decision of 12 April 2011, I have, each year, on my Department's website, invited Expressions of Interest from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to vacancies on State Boards under the aegis of my Department. This information has been used to inform decisions for appointments to State Boards.

My Department does not engage the services of external professional advice in relation to the appointment of persons to State Boards.