Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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89. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there is a list of applicants for positions on boards of State bodies in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42464/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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As a basis, it should be noted that not all vacancies arising on the boards of agencies within my Department’s remit are within my full discretion. Of the 108 appointments I have made since coming to Office in March 2011, only 41 were new appointments that could be considered as such. 24 appointments were reappointments and the remaining 43 were allocated under legislation to Department Representatives, social partners, nominees of other Ministers, nominees of prescribed bodies and appointments on an ex officiobasis and were not appropriate, therefore, for public advertisement.

To assist me in making appointments, I asked the Public Appointments Service (PAS), in December 2013, to administer a single Expressions of Interest process in respect for vacancies arising in 2014 on the Boards of all Agencies under my Department’s remit. The process generated a very strong response in terms of both the number and quality of the Expressions of Interest received.

This has produced a pool of over 200 candidates, collectively, comprising a wide variety of skills and attributes that have already informed a number of board appointments I have made this year. In respect of appointments that are wholly within my discretion, my overriding priority is to appoint the best people available for particular board positions.

I am satisfied that the involvement of the PAS in this process has assisted me in appointing appropriately skilled and experienced people required for membership of State Boards and accords with the spirit of the Government Decision in this regard.