Government set to change process of appointment to State boards

The Government is to make changes to the way people are appointed to State boards, it was announced today.

In future, all candidates to become the chairperson of a board will have to be questioned by the relevant Oireachtas Committee.

Unlike Senate confirmation hearings in the United States, the committee will not have a say in the appointment, which will still be finalised by Cabinet.

The coalition has also abandoned plans, following legal advice, to try and remove those appointed to boards by Fianna Fáil in the dying days of the last Government.