The Labour Party has called on the Government to "clarify the circumstances" surrounding the reappointment of businessman Joe Burke for a further five-year term as chairman of the Dublin Port Company.
Labour spokeswoman on transport Róisín Shortall TD said in a statement yesterday: "While the Government may be correct in maintaining that a formal Government decision was not required to sanction the appointment, we need to know if the procedures governing such appointments as set out in the Cabinet Handbook were complied with.
"The handbook says that 'where an appointment by a Minister to the board of a state-sponsored company (or the like) is envisaged, the Minister should mention the matter at Government at least two weeks in advance to allow colleagues the opportunity of making recommendations'. Was this done?
"In addition, it says that 'the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and any other party leader in government should be informed separately, in advance of such proposal.' Were these procedures complied with?
"If the appointment was made prior to the election of the new Government on June 14th, was the former Tánaiste, Michael McDowell, consulted? If the appointment was made subsequent to June 14th, was the acting leader of the Green Party consulted and did he give his agreement?
"The handbook also states that 'all Government and ministerial appointments should be published in Iris Oifigiúil as soon as can be arranged following the appointment'. We know this has not been complied with, but we are entitled to know why not," Ms Shortall said.
Opposition attempts to raise the issue in the Dáil were ruled out of order by Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue.
The Department of the Marine told The Irish Times earlier this week that the appointment was made, along with others, by outgoing minister of state Pat "the Cope" Gallagher and that then-minister Martin Cullen sent a letter of notification to Mr Burke on June 13th, the previous government's last day in office.
