Minister for Public Reform Brendan Howlin's new stateboard guidelines continue to be ignored by Ministers

On the November 25th 2014 Minister for Public Reform Brendan Howlin publishes State Board Guidelines. Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards.

The portal will contain definitive, current information on all statutory boards.

Guidelines 19. Database of State Boards
The Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards say

19.2 To assist in the maintenance of this database and to ensure that it contains up-to-date information all Departments are required to notify all appointments to State Boards (including ex officio positions) to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at the time of appointment.

The updating of the stateboard membership website is getting quicker and more complete but it is still not definitive.

Guidelines 13. Appointment of Board Members

13.6 At the time of the appointment of new members of State Boards, information shall be published by the relevant Department, for example in the press release announcing the new member(s), on the specific reasons the person(s) appointed meet the criteria determined by the relevant Minister for the role.

how soon is that? I asked the DPER and they wouldn't give a specific time period in which Minister have to announce appointments and give reasons.

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) has been since atleast 2011 prompt in in updating a document state boards on its website but the Minister is neglecting to announce and give reasons for the appointments.

CIE
Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) board timeline

3 new people appointed to the board of national public transport provider CIE in July, It took between 57 and 74 days to be given an indication of the reasons why these people were appointed as per the guidelines. CIE board overseas the national and local public train and bus companies.

Iris Oifigiuil Published by Authority Tuesday, 14th July, 2015

CÓRAS IOMPAIR ÉIREANN APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD
In accordance with Section 6 of the Transport Act 1950 as amended, the Government today appointed
(1) Ms Christine Moran
to the Board of Córas Iompair Éireann, as a member for a period of 3 years, with immediate effect; and

(2) MS Niamh Walsh
AND
Mr. Ruairí O’Flynn
to the Board of Córas Iompair Éireann as members for a period of 3 years, with effect from 24th July 2015.

MARTIN FRASER
Ard-Rúnaí an Rialtais
BAILE ÁTHA CLIATH,
An 7ú lá seo de d’Iúil, 2015.
DUBLIN,
This 7th day of July, 2015.

Christine Moran "Experienced Non-Executive Director .Certified Bank Director & Qualified Chartered Accountant"

Ruairí O'Flynn "Chairman, Director, Experienced CEO"

One can try to search yourself but Niamh Walsh is too common a name to figure out who it is, ultimately Department needs to tell us who these people are.

I asked DTTAS and they replied saying they wre busy with the merger of the NRA and NPA to become the TII, but surely this information should be to hand.

I emailed CIE and month after she was appointed the CIE added the names to its Board member biographies page ,with the message, "Recently appointed - biography coming soon"

CIE board members are appointed by the government rather then the Minister Transport Act, 1950 Section 6 but the guidelines would apply to them too surely?

Finally after 2 months in September the CIE Board bios were updated but still no public annoucement from the Minister on the Departments of Transports website

NTA
NTA board Timeline

6 NTA appointments were added to updated the DTTAS state board appointment document on the 5th of October.

Pat Mangan
Frank O'Connor
Sinéad Walsh
Frank Gleeson
Fiona Ross
Ann Fitzgerald

No announcement with reasons/bios as is required by the state board guideline 13.6.

The issue was highlighted by online newspaper Dublin Inquirer who contacted the Minister didn't get any further then me, but explained it a little more fully. Who’s on the Board of the National Transport Authority? Willy Simon October 13, 2015

Here’s Who’s on the Board of the National Transport Authority Lois Kapila October 20, 2015

The NTA emailed the details to the newspaper 15 October and updated their National Transport Board page with the bios of the new board members around the 20th but still no annoucement from the Minister on the Departments of Transports website.

These new guidelines brought in after the clear abuse of Ministerial office for party gain by Minister Humphreys can be ignored with impunity. The Public Appointment Service is more invovled in selecting candidates but can also be evaded.

Irish Ofiguil
Iris Oifiguil Irish state gazette has the official public announcement of state board appointments.
Although in not clear what determines which stateboard appointments are announced in it and which are not.

Seanad By-Elections 2015: Vincent Brown interviews Sinead Burke SF and Jerry Beades Ind

The Seanad Clerk and Judge review took place on Friday the 23rd of October and as far as I know all four nominations were accepted but the list of candidates still has not been uploaded to the Oireachtas website.

Vincent Browne intereview Jerry Beades Indepdendent and Sinead Burke on TV3, interview starts about 30 mins in. Tonight-with-Vincent-Browne on the 28th Oct 2015. Neither Mairia Cahill the Labour candidte or Keith Swanick the Fianna Fail candidate were on the programme.

Sinead Burke
Asked about qualifications Sinead Burke said she was a Councillor director of the Enterprise Centre in Meath and had founded a Festival on Tara.

At 37 minutes, Sinead Burke misstated Sinn Fein's position on the Abolition referendum Sinn Fein was in favour of abolition Doherty launches Sinn Féin's Seanad abolition campaign.

Vincent Browne asked whether SF ever wanted abolition she said "We were in favour of reforming it" Vincent Browne repeats himself and says I thought SF wanted it gone, she says 'no I don't think so, its was definiely reform", she said "she canvassed to save it".

Jerry Beades
Asked about qualifications Jerry Beades said that he had 30 years working in the construction sector, 'working in architecture and engineeering' as required by the Industry and Commerce panel.

Jerry Beades said he was one of the people that drafted the Construction Contracts Bill, which was enacted but hasn't been put into practice."

Construction Contracts Bill 2010 [Seanad] [PMB] Presented by Senator Feargal Quinn in 12/05/2010 it was carried forward to the next government in 2011 and finally passed by both Houses and enacted in July 2013 but is yet to be put into practice.

The main purpose of this Bill is to provide for a mechanism whereby prior notice of an intention to withhold sums from payments otherwise due must be given. Otherwise, payments must be made in full and/or the payee may suspend the provision of works and/or services under the construction contract until payment is made in full. This provision is proposed in ease of persons along the chain in the construction sector who may suffer unduly where an entity under a superior contract would find itself withholding payment unilaterally without cause. This would bear unfairly upon the payee or others dependent upon the payee.

I wonder what Jerry Beades nominators think of the Jerry Beades and the New land Leagues actions?
Harassment order for receiver Justine McCarthy Sunday Times 28 December 2014
Ktech Security wins court order against anti-eviction protest Aodhan O'Faolain Irish Times Jan 13, 2015
Judge restrains planned protest by anti-eviction activists Aodhan O'Faolain Irish Times Jan 22, 2015
Kilmuckridge locals reclaim ‘repossessed’ supermarket Tim O'Brien Irish Times Oct 14, 2015


Keith Swanick

Vincent Browne said Keith Swanick wasn't informed in time and couldn't get cover for his work as doctor.

@GCraughwell @vinb Unfortunately Im on call tonight, looking forward to possibly having the opportunity to debate next week #Swan4Seanad

— Keith Swanick (@DrKeithSwanick) October 28, 2015

He was interviewed in the Fianna Fail Party Bulletin published October 10/23/2015

Mairia Cahill

.@ReadaCronin The candidate had a long day yesterday,is presently working FT and was not driving Bel to Dub rtn late at night for a TV show.

— Máiría Cahill (@mairiac31) October 29, 2015

At 42 minutes Vincent Browne said Mairia Cahill is being used as battering ram by the Labour Party to embarrrass Sinn Fein.

Qualifications
Constitution of Ireland

7 1° Before each general election of the members of Seanad Éireann to be elected from panels of candidates, five panels of candidates shall be formed in the manner provided by law containing respectively the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely:–

iv Industry and Commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering and architecture;

Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947

the expression “the industrial and commercial panel” means the panel required by the said subsection 1° to contain the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely, industry and commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering, and architecture;

S.I. No. 91/1954 - Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) (Prescribed Forms) Regulations, 1954.