Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - Ministerial Appointments.

John Gormley

Question:

96 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of nominations that can be made, through his Department, to the boards of semi-State bodies and other Government agencies; the current holders of these nominations; and the terms of office they are currently serving. [22930/97]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

There are six State boards-agencies which come under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs. These are: Ageny for Personnel Service Overseas, APSO; Cultural Relations Committee, CRC; Irish Aid Advisory Committee, IAAC; the National Committee for Development Education, NCDE; the Refugee Agency, and Joint Department of Foreign Affairs-NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to these State boards-agencies is as follows:

APSO (Agency for Personnel Services Overseas):

All 11 members of the board of APSO are nominated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The current board members and their terms of appointment are as follows:

Name	Term of Office
Dr. Anthony Clare (Chair)	20 April 1995 to AGM 1998
Mr. Howard Dalzell	31 Janaury 192 to AGM 1999
Ms Mairéad Hayes	1 March 1994 to AGM 2001
Fr. Des McGillicuddy	20 April 1995 to AGM 1999
Mr. Paul Cullen	20 April 1995 to AGM 1999
Ms Anne Connolly	20 April 1995 to AGM 1999
Ms Philomena Murnaghan	10 September 1997 to AGM 2003
Ms Mary Sweeney	11 December 1995 to AGM 2000
Mr. Robin Hanan	8 February 1996 to AGM 2001
Ms Maeve Healy	8 February 1996 to AGM 2001
Ms June Carr	28 November 1996 to AGM 1999

Cultural Relations Committee 1997-98

The terms of office of the current members of the committee, who were appointed by my predecessor for a two year period, ends on 31 December, 1997.

Brendan Kennelly (Chairman)	Academic and poet
John Behan	Artist, member of Aosdána
Siobhán Bourke	Theatre company manager
Paul Brady	Musician
Cecily Brennan	Artist, member of Aosdána
Terence Brown	Academic and writer
Ann Deeney	Teacher
T. V. Honan	Theatre manager
Fionnuala Hunt	Musician, Artistic Director of the Irish Chamber Orchestra
Alf MacLochlainn	Librarian
Jackie McKenna	Artist
Emer McNamara	Arts Officer with Macra na Feirme
Chris Meehan	Musician
Peter Murray	Curator, Crawford Municipial Art Gallery, Cork
Doireann Ní Bhriain	Broadcaster
Michael O'Siadhail	Poet, member of Aosdána
Liz Sharkey	National Youth Federation
Patricia Quinn	Director of the Arts Council

Member of Irish Aid Advisory Committee

	Date of Appointment
Prof. John Kelly	Reappointed 1996
Ms Deirdre Farrell	Reappointed 1996
Ms Gretchen Fitzgerald	Reappointed 1996
Mr. Paddy McGuckain	Reappointed 1996
Mr. John Gogan	Reappointed 1996
Mr. Michael O'Donnell	Reappointed 1996
Mr. John O'Shea	Reappointed 1996
Mr. Howard Dalzell	Reappointed 1996
Ms Sylda Langford	Reappointed 1996
Mr. Sean Byrne	Reappointed 1996
Ms Margaret Fitzgerald	Appointed 1996
Mr. Tony Fahey	Appointed 1996
Mr. Noel McDonagh	Appointed 1996
Mr. Niall Tobin	16 January 1997

Apart from Mr. Niall Tobin the current term of office of the other members of committee has expired and a new committee will shortly be appointed.

NCDE (National Committee for Development Education)

The members of the National Committee for Development Education are appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and include a chairperson, members nominated by various bodies representing the various sectors involved in development education and a small number of invited experts. There were 17 persons on the outgoing committee, including the chairperson. The term of the current committee which was for three years has expired and a new committee will be appointed shortly.

Committe Members

Mr. Liam Wegimont	Chairman
Mr. Tom O'Connor	Invited expert
Mr. Tom Curran	Invited expert
Ms Mary Quinlan	Banúlacht
Mr. Seán MacNamara	Department of Education and Science
Dr. Colm Regan	Invited expert
Ms Philomena Murnaghan	Department of Foreign Affairs
Mr. John Grindle	Invited expert
Mr. Michael O'Sullivan	Columban Justice and Peace Group
Ms Bet Aalen	Dóchas
Mr. Albert O'Ceallaigh	National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
Professor Helen O'Neill	Invited expert
Ms Cris Mulvey	Aontas
Mr. Kevin Kelly	Development Education for Youth (DEFY)
Ms Helen Cole	Invited expert
Ms Heike Vornhagen	Representative of regional groups

The Refugee Agency

The board of the Refugee Agency is appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and includes an independent chairperson, members nominated by certain Ministers and six observer members. The term of office of the current board which was for two years has expired and consideration is at present being given to appointing a new board.

Board of Refugee Agency

Ms Iseult O'Malley (Chairperson)	Barrister
Ms Noreen O'Sullivan	Department of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Barry O'Hara	Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Ms Mary Aylward	Department of Health and Children
Ms Mary Lally	Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Mr. Seán MacGabhann	Department of Education and Science
Mr. Jim Cantwell	Department of the Environment and Local Goverment
Mr. Robert McLean	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Observer Members

Mr. Stephen Wolfson	UNHCR
Dr. Wendy Cox	Irish Council for International Students
Ms Sheila Callan	Irish Red Cross
Mr. David Keane	Solicitor who worked in immigration law
Sr. Phil Sinnot	Works with the Vietnamese community
Rev. Dermot Clifford	Chair Episcopal Commission on Immigrants
Ms Nadette Foley	Irish Refugee Council

Joint Department of Foreign Affairs-NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights

The NGO-independent consultant membership of the committee which was appointed by the Minister for a two year period in June 1997 is as follows:

Rev. Michael Begg	Christian Aid Ireland
Mr. Jerome Connolly	Irish Commission for Justice and Peace
Mr. Howard Dalzell	Concern Worldwide
Mr Michael Farrell	Irish Council for Civil Liberties
Mr. Kevin Kelly	Dóchas
Ms Karen Kenny	Independent consultant
Ms Mary Lawlor	Amnesty International Irish Section
Ms Maura Leen	Trocaire
Ms Mary McEvoy	Banúlacht
Mr. John O'Shea	GOAL
Dr. Gerard Quinn	(Law Reform Commission), Independent Consultant
Ms Maura Quinn	Irish National Committee for UNICEF
Ms Niamh Reilly	Independent consultant
Ms Mary Van Lieshout	Oxfam in Ireland

Professor William Duncan, Professor of Law and Jurisprudence, Trinity College, Dublin, was also appointed in an independent capacity but resigned for personal reasons on 30 August 1997. The vacancy created by his resignation will be filled by me in due course. It is intended that one additional place on the committee will be filled in due course on a rotational basis by the solidarity groups.