Oireachtas committee to quiz nominees to transport agencies

THE “closed-shop” system for state board appointments will come to an end this week, according to an Oireachtas committee which will question nominated chairs of transport agencies for suitability.

Nominees for chairperson of CIÉ, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann will be scrutinised tomorrow by the Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

TDs and senators will have a chance to put questions about transport policy and question the nominees about their plans for the agencies.

The nominees for the positions, which were recently announced by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar, are:

* Chairwoman of CIE — Vivienne Jupp;

* Chairman of Dublin Bus — Kevin Bonner;

* Chairman of Bus Éireann — Paul Mallee;

* Chairman of Iarnród Éireann —Phil Gaffney.

Committee chairman Ciarán Lynch TD welcomed the development which was announced soon after the Coalition came into office.

“In the past, sometimes the impression has existed that chairmanship of such agencies was a closed shop and that no opportunity existed for proper scrutiny of the eligibility of candidates,” he said.

“The committee is looking forward to having a meaningful discussion with these individuals.

“For the first time, it will be an opportunity for elected public representatives to consider the suitability and capacity of those who have been appointed to oversee some of the state’s most influential bodies.”

Committees will not have the power to block appointments but can make recommendations to the relevant ministers not to go ahead with them.

“Organisations such as CIÉ, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann are hugely significant in the everyday lives of millions of people.

“So it’s only proper that those charged with the substantial responsibility of managing their efficient supervision should prove their bona fides and competence in an open public forum,” said Mr Lynch.

The selection process to fill these positions included ads in the media and on the department’s website.

More than 270 expressions of interest were received, including from two of the four nominees.