Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I make appointments to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) in accordance with the provisions of the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006, and the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010 - SI 603/2010.

The legislation provides that I appoint up to 20 members on the nomination of the organisations and interests set out, up to 6 public servants, and up to 8 independent members. Of the 8 independent appointees, members are mainly from the academic sector and nationality is not a specific criterion for appointment. The five year term of the NESC has expired and consideration of the arrangements for a new Council is ongoing.

The Statistics Act 1993 gives me authority to make appointments to National Statistics Board (NSB). I have delegated this authority to the Minister of State at my Department and Government Chief Whip, Regina Doherty TD.

The Statistics Act 1993 provides for an eight member National Statistics Board, the Director General of the CSO, ex officio; one representative each from my Department and the Department of Finance, two nominated by the Minister of State and three by organisations representative of the users of official statistics and providers of information under the Act. The term of the NSB ended on 31 December last. Nationality is not a criterion for appointment to the NSB.

I do not have any information in relation to the nationality of members on both boards but the names of each member is available on www.stateboards.iewhich is managed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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While I have a lead and coordinating role, it is a matter for each Minister to ensure that each State board under his or her aegis has the appropriate gender balance. From the information provided to my Department, in August 2016 43.0 per cent of State boards had met the target of 40 per cent representation of each gender. Overall 37.8 per cent of places on State boards were held by women. This is a positive step forward over December 2011, when female representation on State boards was 33.9 per cent and 31.3 per cent of State boards had met the 40 per cent target.

As the Deputy will be aware, the achievement of gender balance of 40 per cent on State boards is a target in the Programme for a Partnership Government and will be pursued as part of the forthcoming National Women's Strategy.