Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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72. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of appointments to State Boards under the remit of his Department in each year from 2011 to 2014; the number that were publicly advertised; the reason all appointments are not open to public competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26274/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Since coming to Office in March 2011, I have made 41 appointments to the Boards of Agencies under my Department’s remit within my discretion. Appointments and reappointments were also allocated under legislation to Department Representatives, social partners, nominees of other Ministers, nominees of prescribed bodies and appointments on an Ex Officio basis and were not appropriate, therefore, for public advertisement.

Of the 41 new appointments made at my discretion, 28 appointments were selected from applicants to publicjobs.ie. A breakdown of these is presented in tabular format below.

In December 2013, at my request, the Public Appointments Service sought expressions of interest for vacancies arising on the Boards of Agencies under my Department during 2014. This exercise will help inform consideration of public appointments to Boards of Agencies under my remit in 2014.

It is not accurate to say that not all jobs were open to public competition. My Department places general advertisements for expressions of interest to Board positions on a periodic basis. Where possible, in the context of skillset, experience needed for particular appointments, positions are filled from those who have made expressions of interest.

Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation- New Agency Board Appointments within Minister’s Discretion

*March 2011 to end of year