Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The composition of the SEAI board is provided for under section 10 of the Sustainable Energy Authority Act 2002. The legislation makes particular provision regarding the competence of persons to be appointed to the board and provides that appointees must have experience and competence in areas specifically relating to the functions of the SEAI. Among the competences listed in section 10(3) of the Act is "environmental matters". The legislation, as drafted, adequately provides for the appropriate representation on the board to enable the remit of the authority to be met. Under the system, it is open to representatives of NGOs with a track record of environmental campaigning in the area of sustainability and climate change to apply for a position on the board of the authority or, indeed, on any other State board, provided no statutory restrictions apply.

The current legislation provides for this but the issue is there is not a representative from this background on the board currently. The Deputy is seeking the appointment of someone specifically from this background. I do not have a difficulty with that. I am prepared and willing to facilitate that, and legislative provision is in place in this regard. It is not an issue of legislating; the issue is getting candidates to apply who meet the requirements of the board. I agree with the Deputy and I suggest that we advertise these posts through the Public Appointments Service and set down specific criteria, including those that requested by the chairperson of the board, if he wants expertise in a particular area. I am willing to provide in the advertisement for the appointment of someone with the expertise sought by the Deputy. I ask her to withdraw the amendment and engage with my officials. We will do exactly what she wants in this regard because it is provided for in the primary legislation. The difficulty is that it is not happening at the moment.