Appointments to State Boards

Thursday, 14 December 2023

Questions (143)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

143. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide the number of public servants serving on State boards since 2006 in an independent capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55910/23]

View answer

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

There are no State boards, authorities or other State-appointed bodies under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.

I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 384 which was for answer on 13 December 2023 and which asked: “To ask the Minister for Justice if she will provide the number of public servants servicing on State boards since 2006 in an independent capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”

You will recall that at the time, I undertook to seek the information requested and revert to you. I apologise for the delay in issuing a further response. In making appointments to State boards, my Department and agencies under its aegis, ensure compliance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2016), and pays particular attention to its recent Annex on Gender Balance, Diversity and Inclusion (2020), in addition to the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards (2015).

The specific information requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department as it is not possible to be definitive about the employment of a person serving on a State Board, other than where they represent the Minister for Justice. It should be noted that no fee is payable to serving civil servants. The table below provides information on Department officials appointed by the Minister for Justice to State Boards under the aegis of my Department during the period in question.

More information on the State Boards under the aegis of my Department, and the membership, can be accessed at the following website - https://membership.stateboards.ie/en/department/Department%20of%20Justice/

Board	Ministerial Rep	Dates appointed	Re-appointed	Expiration/Resignation Date
Legal Aid Board				Members appointed in accordance with Section 4 of the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995. No statutory provision for a Ministerial Representative. Term of members to be not more than 5 years and can be re-appointed for a second term.
	Tracy O’Keefe	2021	2021	2026
	Rachel Woods	2019		2021
	Martina Colville	2016		2019
	David Gilbride	2016		2017
	Carol Baxter	2015		2016
	Oonagh Mc Phillips	2011		2015
	Bob Browne	2006		2011
	Caoimhin OhUiginn	2005		2006
Courts Service Board				Ministerial Representative appointed in accordance with Section 11(n) of the Courts Service Act, 1998 as amended . Term of 3 years and can be eligible for re-nomination.
	Rachel Woods	2023	2023	2026
	Doncha O’Sullivan	2019	2020	2023
	Carol Baxter	2017		2018
	Conan McKenna	2014		2016
	Deirdre O’Keefe	2011		2013
	Noel Waters	2008		2010
	James Martin	2006		2007

Board	Ministerial Rep	Dates appointed	Re-appointed	Expiration/Resignation Date
Property Services Regulatory Authority (established 03/04/2012)				Ministerial Representative appointed in accordance with Section 10(4)(c) of the Property Services Regulation Act, 2011. Term of appointment is 4 years and may be eligible for re-appointment for a second term.
	Aonghus O’Connor	2024		2025
	Seamus Clifford	2021		2023
	Martin McDermott	2019		2020
	Regina Terry	2012	2015	2019
Private Security Authority				Ministerial Representative appointed in accordance with Section 7(2)(e) of the Private Security Services Act 2004 (as amended)
	Una Doyle	2022		2026
	John Garry	2017		2021
	Marion Walsh	2013		2017
	Oonagh McPhillips	2010		2012
	Eimear Fisher	2006		2010
	Catherine Byrne	2004		2006