Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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94. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of bodies to which she has the authority to appoint board members. [7022/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.

Citizens Information Board

Under the Comhairle Act, 2000 and the Citizens Information Act, 2007, I have the authority to appoint members to the Citizens Information Board

Pensions Board

The Pensions Board is a representative body whose members are also appointed by me. The Public Service Reform Programme provided for a critical review of the integration of the regulatory functions of the Pensions Board with the Financial Regulator and the merging of the Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Services Ombudsman. The recommendations arising out of the Critical Review on the Pensions Board were approved by Government in April 2013 and were provided for in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2013.

It was recommended that the governance structure of the Pensions Board be restructured. Oversight of the Pensions Board will be undertaken by a three person body called the Pensions Authority. This will consist of a Chairperson and two officials from the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Finance.

A separate unpaid Pensions Council, with a majority of members representing consumer interests, will be established to advise me on pensions policy. I expect to appoint the Chairperson of the Pensions Authority shortly. I intend to call for expressions of interest for the appointment to the Pensions Council through the Public Appointments Service.

Social Welfare Tribunal

Under the provisions of Social Welfare legislation, I have the authority to appoint members to the board on the nomination of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Irish Business and Employer's Confederation.