Board appointees should quit: Hayes

PEOPLE appointed to state bodies in the dying days of the last government should quit their posts, a minister said last night.

Junior Finance Minister Brian Hayes branded the way out-going administrations packed boards with their favourites as an “abuse of power”.

Mr Hayes insisted such appointees should “do the right thing” and consider their positions as the Government was seeking legal advice on whether they could be removed.

“The practice of an outgoing government, in its dying days, making dozens of appointments to state boards is a manifestation of the abuse of power in this area. Last-minute appointments where a government is still in office, but clearly without a mandate, highlighted the unacceptable practice that has been allowed to develop.

“A good start would be for those who were appointed to such positions in these circumstances to consider their position. The Government is seeking advice on whether it is in a position to remove people,” he said.

The new hard-line approach came as positions on boards of several state agencies, including CIÉ, were advertised for the first time.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said this move would mean non-executive posts such as on Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann and the Railway Procurement Agency would no longer be appointed by Cabinet.

“It’s an opportunity to bring a new impetus and freshness of approach to these boards and it also it underpins the commitments this Government has given in our Programme for Government,” he said.