Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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426. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is responsible for all board appointments where such power to appoint persons to State boards is vested in him by statute; if any politically-appointed State employee outside his Department is involved in decision-making concerning such appointments, in particular, if, during the lifetime of the Government, a named person (details supplied) has had any influence over any appointments made by him; if he or officials from his Department have corresponded with that person, regarding the composition of and appointments to State boards to which he has statutory power to make appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30105/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am responsible for appointment of members to the boards of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), Gaisce and the Board of Management for the Children Detention Schools in Oberstown, Co Dublin.

I can confirm that no politically-appointed State employee outside of my Department has been involved in the decision-making concerning board appointments and that the Department had no contact with the named person in relation to any board appointments during the lifetime of the Government.

New arrangements concerning appointments to State Board were approved by Government in November 2014. Guidelines covering the process to be used were published on 25th November 2014 by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Under these new arrangements, the Public Appointments Service will manage the process of advertising and subsequently, the selection of suitable potential appointees to State Boards.

In making my decisions on appointments to boards, subject to the governing legislation, I will consider the most suitable persons for the positions available with due regard to the body or agency in question and its particular responsibilities and I will seek to ensure that the appropriate mix of skills and experience is in place to best serve that body or agency.