Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
105. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence if there is a specific policy within her Department that seeks to preclude those elected to local authorities from any boards that she may appoint; the rationale behind any such policy; the way in which it aligns with encouraging participation in local government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52851/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra106. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence 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. [52869/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together.
My Department does not have a specific policy in place that seeks to preclude those elected to local authorities from serving on State Boards. Any restrictions on eligibility or disqualification from appointment to a State Board is set out in the relevant legislation governing the board.
There are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the Army Pensions Board, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces (EOB), which was placed on a Statutory basis on 1 December 2024.
The Army Pensions 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 of whom one must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps. The chairman and the non military ordinary member are appointed by the Minister for Defence with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. 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.
The External Oversight Body (EOB) was established under the Defence (Amendment) Act 2024. Under the Act, the EOB shall consist of no fewer than 7 members and no greater than 9 members consisting of a chairperson, between 5 and 7 ordinary members, and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence who is an ex officio member.
The role of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004.
Under the Defence (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act, members of both Houses of the Oireachtas, the European Parliament, and local authorities are expressly disqualified from appointment to these State bodies.
There are no plans to prepare or amend existing legislation to not automatically exclude members of local authorities from consideration for appointment. This statutory prohibition is primarily designed to ensure the complete independence of the bodies.
