StateBoards.ie launched

The Public Expenditure Minister says the new state board appointments process is a "sea change" - but admits there may still be controversies ahead.

Brendan Howlin this morning launched the new StateBoards.ie service - which will see appointees drawn up from a list of qualified candidates - with Ministers still holding the final decision.

The process has been called into question by the appointment of Fine Gael's John McNulty to the board of IMMA last year - and Independent TD Michael Lowry's recent note to the Taoiseach asking for Valerie O'Reilly to be re-appointed to the National Transport Authority.

Brendan Howlin says State Boards.ie service will improve matters - but cannot be sure that controversies will be avoided "I'm very confident that this is a seachange, this really is a new departure in how things are done"