James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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937. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm that for each year between 2020 and 2025 in respect of the boards of bodies under the aegis of his Department (details supplied); that the board has a terms of reference; where that is not the case, to identify that body, by reference to year or years where no terms of reference existed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24244/25]

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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939. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to identify, by body name and associated skills gap, any skills gaps identified by the chairperson of that board (details supplied) in correspondence to his Department or a Minister in respect of the composition of the board of the body referred, for each year between 2020 and 2025, in tabular form; to identify any body where the chairperson of that board never identified skills gaps to his Department or a Minister, by year and body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24246/25]

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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940. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of members of boards in each body under the aegis of his Department (details supplied) who have a professional accounting qualification, for each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24247/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 937, 939 and 940 together.

I would like to advise the Deputy that from the list included, only the National Milk Agency, Coillte and Bord Iascaigh Mhara are State Bodies under the remit of my Department.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has 13 agencies in total, 4 commercial state boards and 9 non-commercial boards with appointments processed through public jobs, the Public Appointments Service.

My department’s board appointments and reappointment process is in keeping with the requirements outlined in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016. My department engages comprehensively with the Chair of each state agency as part of the development of the vacancy notice form for the position. Any gaps in the skill sets on the board and the skill sets required for the board vacancy are considered and identified in the proposed job specification to seek to address such gaps, as far as possible.

My department ensures that our state agency boards have the appropriate balance of skills and knowledge to enable them to discharge their respective roles and responsibilities effectively. Any skill gaps identified through the recruitment process are brought to my attention.

Under the Guidelines for the Appointment to State Bodies (NewERA Appendix), all proposed job specifications for any vacancy on Coillte’s Board that are filled via the publicjobs appointment process. Job specifications are developed in consultation with NewERA, my Department, the Chair of Coillte and publicjobs. As part of this process, any gaps in the skill sets on the board and the skill sets required for the board vacancy are considered and identified in the proposed job specification to seek to address such gaps, as far as possible.

I can advise the Deputy that the three state agency boards listed have terms of reference for the period 2020 – 2025. Please be advised that the Coillte Board has a schedule of matters specifically reserved to it for decision which acts as a Terms of Reference for the Board. Each of Coillte’s three Board sub-committees has a separate terms of reference.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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938. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm that for each year between 2020 and 2025 in respect of the boards of bodies under the aegis of his Department (details supplied); at least one member of the audit and risk committee of that board has recent, relevant financial experience for each of those years; where that is not the case, to identify that body, by reference to the year or years where no so such member existed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24245/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The details requested by the Deputy in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department (the National Milk Agency, Coillte and Bord Iascaigh Mhara) are a matter for the individual bodies. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the State bodies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.

Neither the State Laboratory nor Horse Sport Ireland are state agencies under the aegis of my department.