Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

126. To ask the Minister for Finance the process which will be followed in appointing the chairperson of the Irish fiscal advisory council; the date on which this position fell vacant; the date on which he expected the appointment to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33769/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Professor John McHale has informed my Department that he is not putting himself forward for reappointment for a further term as a member of the Fiscal Council when his current term of office expires on 31 December 2016. As Professor McHale is also the current chairperson of the Council, this will also create a vacancy for the position of chairperson.

In order to fill the vacancy on the Council for a member, and in line with Government policy for appointments to State Boards, a recruitment competition is being managed by the Public Appointments Service. The deadline for applications is 8 November. Following consideration of the applications by a group convened by the Public Appointments Service, a list of suitably qualified candidates will be submitted to me and I will appoint a new Council member to take office with effect from 1 January 2017, for a term of four years.   

With regard to the chairperson, under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012, the chairperson of the Council is appointed by me from the Council membership. Accordingly, following the current recruitment process, when the full complement of Council members for 2017 is known, I will appoint one of the members as chairperson.