Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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124. To ask the Taoiseach his views on the number of appointments to State boards under his remit that do not go through the Commission for Public Service Appointments ; his plans to review the manner in which State boards are appointed to ensure that the most suitably qualified persons fill vacancies that arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30824/14]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Most appointments to the National Economic and Social Council [NESC] under the legislation are of Secretaries General in an ex-officio capacity, or of nominees from different social partner organisations. However there is also facility for independent appointments by the Taoiseach and it is intended that expressions of interest will be sought in advance of these appointments when that next arises.

Appointments to the National Statistics Board (NSB) are made in line with the provisions of Section 18 of the Statistics Act 1993. The Act states that the NSB shall consist of eight members comprising the following seven persons who shall be appointed by the Taoiseach:

- five persons of proven ability and experience in relevant fields;

- two of whom shall be nominated by the Taoiseach; and

- three of whom shall be nominated by such organisation or organisations as the Taoiseach considers to be representative of the users of official statistics and providers of information under this Act,

- an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the

- Department of the Taoiseach, and

- an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of Finance.

The Director General of the CSO is a member of the board, ex officio.

When the Board expired in October 2013 expressions of interest were invited for positions on the NSB. These positions were advertised on the websites of the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Statistics Board.