Written answers
Tuesday, 9 May 2023
Department of Justice and Equality
Appointments to State Boards
Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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437. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will list all appointments to the boards of the Irish Film Classification Office and the Classification of Films Appeal Board from 1 January 2011 to date; when vacancies are next due to arise on both boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21206/23]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) is a statutory body, first established in 1923 pursuant to the Censorship of Films Act 1923, as amended, which has responsibility for the classification of film and video works.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Film Classification Office does not have a board. The Censorship of Films Act, 1923, as amended, provides for the appointment of a Director of Film Classification.
The Director of Film Classification is independent in the exercise of their functions. However, a person may appeal a decision of the Director of Film Classification to the Classification of Films Appeal Board. The decisions of the Appeal Board are final.
Appointments to the Classification of Films Appeal Board are governed by the Censorship of Films Act, 1923, as amended.
The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table below.
| Board Member | Date Appointed | Date Re-appointed | Date of End of Appointment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms. Ciara Daly | 06/01/2023 | - | 05/01/2028 |
| Mr. Barry Nevin | 06/01/2023 | - | 05/01/2028 |
| Ms. Lisa Quinn | 06/01/2023 | - | 05/01/2028 |
| Ms. Margaret Taylor (Chair) | 07/12/2015 | 07/12/2020 | 06/12/2025 |
| Ms. Amy Rowan | 07/12/2015 | 07/12/2020 | 06/12/2025 |
| Ms. Isabel Charleton | 07/12/2015 | 07/12/2020 | 06/12/2025 |
| Dr. Ken Fennelly | 07/12/2015 | 07/12/2020 | 06/12/2025 |
| Dr. Sean Crossan | 07/12/2015 | 07/12/2020 | 06/12/2025 |
| Mr. Ultan Murphy | 07/12/2015 | 07/12/2020 | 06/12/2025 |
| Dr. Andrew Power | 07/12/2015 | n/a | 06/12/2020 |
| Dr. Niamh McCole | 07/12/2015 | n/a | 01/04/2017 |
| Ms. Molly Buckley | 07/12/2015 | n/a | 10/11/2016 |
| Mr. Paul O Higgins (Chair) | 21/04/2008 | - | 21/04/2013 |
| Ms. Caroline Erskine | 21/04/2008 | - | 21/04/2013 |
| Mr. Loughlin Deegan | 21/04/2008 | - | 21/04/2013 |
| Ms. Barbara Farragher | 21/04/2008 | - | 21/04/2013 |
| Ms. Niamh Stephenson | 21/04/2008 | - | 21/04/2013 |
| Mr. Malcolm Byrne | 21/04/2008 | - | 21/04/2013 |
| Fr. Damian McNiece | 29/04/2008 | - | 29/04/2013 |
| Mr. Kevin Myers | 21/04/2008 | - | 21/04/2013 |
| Reverend Canon David Pierpoint | 21/04/2008 | - | 21/04/2013 |
Details of current members of the Classification of Films Appeal Board are published on Stateboards.ie at: membership.stateboards.ie/en/board/Classification%20of%20Films%20Appeal%20Board/.
Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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438. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the director of the Irish Film Classification Office has been appointed on an acting basis for much of the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21207/23]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on March 6, 2023, Dr. Ciarán Kissane was appointed as the new Director of Film Classification in the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO). Dr. Kissane’s appointment followed an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service.
Dr Kissane replaces Mr George Sinclair who was appointed in an acting capacity as Director of IFCO from February 4, 2022 until March 5, 2023 following the cessation of the previous Director, Mr. Gerard Connolly's term, and pending the conclusion of the Public Appointments Service open competition.
Mr Gerard Connolly had earlier been acting Director from December 2009 to May 2016, at which point he was made Director of IFCO. This was due to the general restrictions on recruitment as part of the Government's measures to manage the public finances at that time.
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