Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1583. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has made State board appointments in the past three years in circumstances in which he has reappointed a person that has already served two full terms contrary to the advice in section 13(2) of the guidelines on appointments to State boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19771/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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One Board member of Ervia up to January 2018 had been appointed three times in particular circumstances. The Board member was first appointed to the Board of the then Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) with effect from 28 November 2008 for a period of 5 years. This appointment was linked to the company's Employee Share Ownership Plan and the second term on the Board, which commenced on 21 November 2013, was linked to the Profit Sharing Scheme. The second term ended on 5 January 2015, when the Trustee’s holding reduced to less than 1%. Following negotiations at that time, the Board member was appointed for a third term, on 20 January 2015, for a period of 3 years.

In accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards and the exceptions to the arrangements provided in section 9 of those Guidelines, as well as the exceptional arrangements set out in section 4.5 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, I, with Government approval, re-appointed the Board member to the Ervia Board on an exceptional basis for a term of 3 years with effect from 10 July 2018. In doing so, regard was had to the individual's background and experience in trade unions and his contribution to and experience on the Board of Ervia over a period which involved several major organisational changes.

The Chairperson of the Property Registration Authority was re-appointed, on 4 November 2018, for a third term. Work is currently underway to progress the merger of the Property Registration Authority, Valuation Office and Ordinance Survey Ireland. While the full implementation of the merger requires the passing of legislation, the merger continues to progress on an administrative basis. It was for this reason that the Chairperson was reappointed until 3 November 2022 or the establishment of Táilte Éireann, whichever is sooner.