Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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431. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total number of appointments to State boards since March 2011 under the aegis of his Department; the total number of appointments that have been advertised on his Department’s website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32296/14]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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432. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of chairpersons appointed to State boards under the aegis of his Department since March 2011 that have appeared before the relevant joint Oireachtas committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32311/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 432 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, each year, on my Department's website, Expressions of Interest have been invited 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.

Such invitations are designed to extend the range of suitable persons from which a Minister might make appointments – not to constrain that range. In 2011 there were 31 applications received following the advertisement for Expressions of Interest from which 3 appointments were made. In 2012 there were 37 applications received following the advertisement for Expressions of Interest from which 5 appointments were made. In the current 2013/2014 call for expressions of interest there have been 110 applications received to date following the advertisement for Expressions of Interest from which 10 appointments were made.

There have been 109 appointments made to State Boards under the aegis of my Department in the period March 2011 to date, including the appointments made from the Expressions of Interest received, taking into consideration qualifications and legislative requirements where applicable. It should also be noted that about one third of the appointments made were either ex-officio appointments, reappointments, the appointment of worker directors chosen by election, or appointments made from nominations made by an Oireachtas Committee. A total of 12 of the appointments were to the position of Chairperson. Though a number predated the Government decision and a number were reappointments, four have appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee as part of the appointment process.