Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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352. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of appointments to State boards under the aegis of her Department since March 2011; the total number of appointments that have been advertised on her Department’s website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32306/14]

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 Authority, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.

Citizens Information Board

There have been five appointments to the Board since March 2011. One member was appointed with effect from 7 September 2011, following an advertisement for expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced individuals on the Department’s website, , which invited applicants to register their interest through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) website, . 72 applications were received through PAS and, following a selection process, the appointment was made in accordance with the legislation governing appointments to the Board. This member was re-appointed to the board on 27 April 2014, in accordance with Section 9 (10) of the Comhairle Act 2000. The other three appointments did not require public advertisement. A representative of the Department was appointed to the Board on 1 November 2011. A new representative of the Department was appointed in March 2014. The CIB’s staff representative to the Board was appointed with effect from 5 November 2012.

Pensions Authority

The Pensions Board was superseded by the Pensions Authority in March 2014. There were no appointments to the Pensions Board between March 2011 and March 2014. The Chairperson of the Pensions Board continued in her role in the Pensions Authority. There were two departmental nominees also appointed, one was appointed by me as the representative from my Department and the other was appointed by the Minister for Finance. These positions were appointed in accordance with the legislation governing the Pensions Authority, and were not advertised on my Department’s website.

Social Welfare Tribunal

The Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members, two on the nomination of Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and two nominated by Irish Business and Employers' Confederation (IBEC). Legislation provides that the four ordinary members are appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the two relevant bodies and consequently the advertising of the positions is not appropriate. There were 6 appointments made since March 2011. One member was appointed with effect from 24 October 2011 as a replacement for a member who resigned. The term of office for the board expired in October 2012 and 5 appointments were made at that time. The position of Chairperson is filled by way of a recommendation from the Labour Court with regard to a particular candidate’s suitability. The Chairperson, who was re-appointed in 2012, has held the position since 2003.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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353. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of chairpersons appointed to State boards under the aegis of her Department since March 2011 who have appeared before the relevant joint Oireachtas committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32321/14]

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 Authority, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. None of the chairpersons of the boards of the bodies under the aegis of the Department have appeared before the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection since March 2011.