Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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805. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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 of 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. [30106/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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As Minister I am responsible for board appointments where the power to appoint persons to State bodies is vested in me by statute. In November 2014, the Government approved new Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards with the objective of opening up the process to the largest possible pool of suitable candidates. The Guidelines establish a new and transparent process operated by the Public Appointment Service (PAS). While it is ultimately the responsibility of the relevant accountable Minister or the Government, where appropriate, to make appointments, PAS will support the process by seeking to ensure that a sufficient list of suitable candidates is available for consideration.

No record exists of any correspondence between the person referred to and my Department in relation to the matters outlined in the Question.