Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
124. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport 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. [52864/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra125. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport 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. [52882/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.
Appointments to State Boards under the aegis of my Department are made in accordance with the relevant legislation relating to each State Body and in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (“DPER”) 2014 guidelines on appointments to State Boards.
The Guidelines, which apply to both commercial and non-commercial State Bodies, state that broad and open access to potential participation on State Boards is essential to the broadening of State Board membership, helping to ensure that the public sector benefits from the talent, abilities and commitment of as wide a pool of suitable candidates as possible, to be assessed through an independent process operated by publicjobs as eligible for membership of State Boards.
There are 12 commercial bodies and 4 non-commercial bodies under the aegis of my Department who have boards filled through the publicjobs process.
The establishing legislation relating to each State Body specifies the composition of the board and (if applicable) those disqualified from becoming a member of the Board. Neither the DPER Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies nor the DPER Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards stipulate any specific exclusions from state board membership.
In relation to the Road Safety Authority, Section 22(1)(d) of the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 provides that where a member of the Board becomes a member of a local authority, he or she shall cease to be a member of the Board. Section 22(4) of the Act provides that a person who is a member of a local authority shall be disqualified from becoming a member of the Board. However, the Deputy may wish to note that section 22(5) goes on to provide that “The Authority shall not employ or otherwise retain in any capacity a person who would otherwise be disqualified under this section from becoming a member of the Board, or a member of the staff, of the Authority, save with the approval of the Minister”.
There is no specific policy or governing legislation precluding local elected representatives from applying for positions on the remainder of the Boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department.
State Boards manages an open, accessible process to support Ministers in making appointments to State Boards and it is open to all members of the public to apply for positions advertised on the publicjobs.ie website, considering the skills, experience, and competencies required for specific board vacancies.
In making appointments, my primary objective is to ensure that boards collectively possess the appropriate balance of skills, experience, expertise and diversity necessary to effectively discharge their statutory functions and support good governance.
There are no plans to prepare draft legislation in this area or to amend the establishing legislation relating to each State Body.
