Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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246. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies currently exist, or on which vacancies are anticipated to arise, up to and including 1 January 2016; the number of vacancies in each case; when the vacancy arose or will arise; if the vacancy relates to a chair or a member; if she will provide details of the appointment process in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18476/15]

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

The Citizens Information Board

There are currently nine vacancies on the Citizens Information Board including that of Chairperson. Eight vacancies arose in March 2015 (including Chairperson) due to the expiration of existing terms of appointments. Two of these vacancies were filled by way of the re-appointment of existing members. A vacancy arose in May 2014 and two vacancies arose in March 2012. A further vacancy will arise in December 2015.

The Board can sit up to 15 members. Arrangements will be made with the Public Appointments Service to publicly seek expressions of interest for the vacancies which will be filled in accordance with the legislative provisions and the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards issued in November 2014.

The Pensions Authority

It is anticipated that there will be one vacancy in the period up to 1 January 2016. The appropriate appointment process under the guidelines on appointments to State Boards will be undertaken in advance of the vacancy arising.

The Pensions Council

The Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 provided for the establishment of the Pensions Council. The Act provides that the Pensions Council will be comprised of:

- A chairperson,

- One member nominated by the Minister as a representative of the Department of Social Protection,

- The Pensions Regulator (formerly called the chief executive of the Pensions Board),

- One member nominated by the Minister for Finance as a representative of the Central Bank,

- One member nominated by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as a representative of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform,

- Not fewer than 4, and not more than 8, other members each of whom the Minister considers to have the relevant skills, specialist knowledge, experience or expertise to enable him or her to carry out his or her functions under this Act.

The required members of the Pensions Council have been appointed, including 7 “other members” and there are no existing or anticipated vacancies anticipated at this time.

Social Welfare Tribunal

The Board of the Social Welfare Tribunal Board currently has no vacancies. The Board is appointed for a 3 year term which will end on 4 Oct 2015 and 5 vacancies will arise. A new Board will be appointed from 5 Oct 2015.

The Board consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members, two of whom are nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and two by the Irish Business Employer Confederation (IBEC). The Chairperson is sourced by the Department of Social Protection by way of a recommendation from the Labour Court with regard to a particular candidate's suitability.

The Department requests that nominations are in accordance with the Government's Gender Balance Policy.