Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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For the Deputy's information, in accordance with Government policy, my Department, through the Public Appointments Service (PAS), advertises for board vacancies as they arise where I as Minister for Social Protection have nominating rights. Applications are made through the dedicated website www.stateboards.ie and an assessment process is undertaken by PAS leading to the creation of a list of candidates deemed suitable for appointment to boards. Guidelines for Appointments to State Boards, can be viewed on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website www.per.gov.ie.

Comprehensive information in relation to the composition of the boards of non-commercial State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills, which includes information on the board appointments where I as Minister have power to appoint can be downloaded from my Department's website at

No correspondence has been received in the Department of Social Protection in relation to the appointment of any state bodies from the individual concerned.

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.

Citizens Information Board

The legislative provisions governing appointments to the Citizens Information Board are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007 and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011.

The procedures followed when appointing members to the Citizens Information Board (CIB) are in accordance with the Revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies where Departments invite expressions of interest from members of the public for vacancies on the boards or bodies under their aegis. These arrangements involve using a centralised application service provided by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to manage the expressions of interest received.

In accordance with the legislation, I also appoint a representative from the CIB and from the Department to the Board.

Pensions Council

I have used the Public Appointments Service to obtain appropriate and suitable nominees for the Pensions Council. People interested in serving as members (unpaid) of the Pensions Council were invited to make expressions of interest to the Public Appointments Service, and applications were received from 56 individuals. The information was collated by them and forwarded to my officials who assessed each applicant in terms of their qualifications, skills and experience. A list of candidates who satisfied the requirements was submitted to me for consideration form which 7 people were selected.

Pensions Authority

The Pensions Authority is a three person oversight board composed of a Chair (the outgoing Chair from the Pensions Board has continued in the role) and representatives from the Department of Finance and my Department. It was not appropriate to use the PAS process in this regard.

The Social Welfare Tribunal

The Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members, two on the nomination of Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and two nominated by Irish Business and Employers' Confederation (IBEC). Legislation provides that the four ordinary members of the Tribunal are appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the two relevant bodies. The Chairperson is sourced by my Department by way of a recommendation from the Labour Court with regard to a particular candidate’s suitability.

All positions are filled in line with the relevant governing legislation, which varies from body to body, and with the objective of providing the best possible advice and expertise for the bodies concerned. There are no plans to review the manner in which appointments are made to State Boards under the remit of my Department.