Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
231. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if there is a specific policy within his Department that seeks to preclude those elected to local authorities from any boards that he may appoint; the rationale behind any such policy; the way in which it aligns with encouraging participation in local government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52860/26]
View answer232. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to commit to preparing legislation to not automatically exclude members of local authorities from consideration for appointment to State boards; and to set out the reasons such persons would be excluded. [52878/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, State bodies generally have governing legislation which provides for the composition of the board, the appointment (by the relevant Minister) of the board and the chairperson and may also detail any exclusions from board membership. The governing legislation is developed by the relevant Department.
My Department published the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, 2014 and these guidelines are an aid for Departments in the appointment arrangements for filling of state board vacancies. These guidelines were developed to support an open, accessible, rigorous and transparent system for appointments to State boards and to encouraging candidates from a wide pool.
As outlined in the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, while there are particular requirements applying in relation to the desirable composition of each individual State board, best practice confirms that effective board members are those that, for example:-
• Bring independent and objective scrutiny to the oversight of the organisation.
• Are prepared to be challenging when necessary, while being supportive to the delivery of organisational strategy and objectives.
• Are equipped to offer considered advice on the basis of sound judgement and experience.
• Must be prepared to make a time commitment to their work commensurate with their role.
The relevant Department specifies the criteria necessary for a specific Board role including specific experience, knowledge and skills that would strengthen the capacity of the Board.
State board members are appointed to act in the best interest of the State body and to ensure that the State body fulfils its mandate.
