Written answers
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Department of Defence
Appointments to State Boards
Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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122. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a list will be provided of all persons appointed to State or semi-State boards under his remit since 1 November 2024. [46923/24]
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Following a recommendation in the Report of the Independent Review Group (“the IRG”), published in March 2023, the External Oversight Body was established, on a non-statutory basis initially, to oversee the implementation of relevant recommendations of the IRG Report. The recommendations sought to increase transparency and accountability, and to bring about necessary changes to the workplace culture and behaviour in the Defence Forces.
The Defence (Amendment) Act 2024 (“the Act”) provides for the establishment of a statutory Body to be known as Comhlacht Formhaoirsithe Seachtrach Óglaigh na hÉireann (the External Oversight Body) and to provide for its functions. The Act was signed into law by the President on 17 July 2024.
In accordance with the provisions of the Act, in my capacity as Minister for Defence, I signed the commencement and establishment day orders on 1st December 2024 bringing the statutory body into operation. The following list of persons were officially appointed to the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces on that date;
- Ms. Patricia King (Chair)
- Mr. Jim Breslin
- Ms. Sam des Forges
- Mr. Liam Doherty
- Ms. Josephine Feehily
- Mr. Pat O’ Doherty
- Ms. Julie Sinnamon
The only other State body with a board under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners, one of whom must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps. The Army Medical Corps ordinary member is appointed by the Minister for Defence on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. There have been no appointments since 1 November 2024.
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