Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
251. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment 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. [52871/26]
View answerThere are no plans at present to introduce overarching legislation to remove restrictions on the eligibility of members of local authorities for appointment to State boards.
The criteria for appointment to the boards of State bodies is determined by the governing legislation establishing that body. In certain cases, that legislation provides that a board member shall cease to be a member of the board if he or she is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, is elected as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or as a representative in the European Parliament, elected to the European Parliament, or becomes a member of a local authority.
Such provisions are included where considered appropriate by the Oireachtas, having regard to the particular functions and responsibilities of the body. These restrictions help avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest, maintain the independence of the body, ensure appropriate separation between political and executive or regulatory functions, and support public confidence in the objectivity of board decision-making.
