Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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306. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the remaining vacancies on the interim board of the Office of Public Procurement will be filled; the criteria for selecting appointees; and when legislation setting up the board on a permanent basis will be expected. [11948/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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There is one remaining vacancy on the interim board of the Office of Public Procurement that is to be filled by the appointment of a suitably qualified and experienced external person. Applications for this position were sought through the Public Appointments Service and I am considering an appointment. The following areas of expertise were indicated as being of particular interest for the appointment - corporate governance; public procurement/competition legal expertise; public procurement operations; financial expertise (with particular reference to audit capability); shared service delivery.

The remaining members of the interim board have been nominated by me at the level of Secretary General of a government department or equivalent to ensure effective and strong corporate governance by the board for its oversight and advisory role.  The board is chaired by Deputy Simon Harris, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for Public Procurement.

The other members of the interim board are:

- Mr Jim Breslin, Secretary General, Department of Health

- Ms. Eileen Creedon, Chief State Solicitor

- Mr. Martin Fraser, Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach

- Mr. John McCarthy, Secretary General, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

- Ms. Niamh O'Donoghue, Secretary General, Department of Social Protection

- Mr. Paul Quinn, Chief Procurement Officer, Office of Government Procurement, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform  

The drafting of primary legislation to enable a new independent office is a considerable task.  It is important that its functions, powers and governance are clearly set out.  Work is underway within the Office of Government Procurement, in consultation with the Chief State Solicitor's Office and the Office of the Attorney General, to develop a draft Heads of Bill.  The interim Board has also been consulted in its development.  The Chief Procurement Officer will bring the draft Heads of Bill to me for consideration in the coming months.