Opposition spokesmen are questioning the transparency of the process under which more than 300 ministerial appointments to State boards and other public bodies are due to be made by the end of the year.
Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe believes nominees to the more important positions should appear before an Oireachtas committee and Labour's environment spokesman Eamon Gilmore claims most of those appointed are "Fianna Fáil insiders".
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív has the highest number of appointments to make at 41, including positions on Foras na Gaeilge and Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge.
Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin has 39 vacancies, including appointments to such bodies as the Educational Disadvantage Committee and Education Ireland.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Michéal Martin comes next with 38 vacancies to be filled, including 12 on the Health and Safety Authority and seven on the Labour Relations Commission.
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley of the Green Party will initiate or oversee 33 appointments to such bodies as the National Building Agency, the Affordable Homes Partnership and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan has 27 appointments to such bodies as the Censorship of Films Appeal Board and the Human Rights Commission.
Outgoing minister Michael McDowell made a number of appointments shortly before leaving office, eg, founder-member of the PDs Paul MacKay was appointed to the Parole Board on June 1st. Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has 20 appointments to make, including eight to the Public Appointments Service and four to the National Development Finance Agency.
Other members of the Government due to make or approve appointments include: Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Séamus Brennan (26); Minister for Transport and the Marine Noel Dempsey (26) (including 12 worker-directors); Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Mary Coughlan (22); Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern (18); Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea (8); and Minister for Social and Family Affairs Martin Cullen (7).
The information came in written answers to parliamentary questions from Mr O'Keeffe and Mr Gilmore.
No figures were available as yet from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney or Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan.
Mr O'Keeffe said: "There is no open, transparent process for these appointments and some of them are of quite major importance. There is a need for complete reform in this area.
"Rather than have this secret, closed process, there should be more openness about it. Major appointments should be brought before Oireachtas committees."
Mr Gilmore said: "There is a case for the Minister being questioned by the appropriate Oireachtas committee about the basis for appointments which are made. The recommendations that are given to a Minister by the department in respect of such appointments should be made public.
"Most of the appointments are political and in circumstances where you now have a continuous Fianna Fáil Government for 15 years, it means that the appointments to State bodies are drawn from a very small pool of people who for the most part are Fianna Fáil insiders."
