Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy regarding State board appointments made since March 2011 is included in the table.

At present, my Department maintains its own database of applicants compiled from expressions of interest as advertised on our website. In making any Board appointments, I am not confined to those who make such expressions of interest but I do ensure that all of those appointed have the relevant qualifications for the positions. In that respect, I have regard to the body or agency in question and the appropriate mix of skills and experience required on the Board. I may, from time to time, also decide not to fill all existing vacancies.

Regarding the credentials of those appointed, these are already available on most of the websites of the Agencies themselves. In the interest of transparency, my Department will be writing to all the agencies under the Department’s remit to request they all provide a synopsis of each Board member's credentials on their websites.

The Deputy will be aware that a new model for appointments to State Boards, making use of the Public Appointment Service, will come into effect later this year. This will complement the current system with a more structured approach to ensurethat vacancies on State Boards are populated in a transparent way by the high-calibre personnel required to successfully perform their mandates. My Department’s current procedures will be superseded by the new model when it is in place.

My Department publishes details of all State Board appointments and vacancies on its website - dttas.ie- and on current processes for appointment.