§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the process used to select the director of operations for Waterways Ireland; who drew up the job description; who was the chairman of the appointment panel; and whether there was any prior coaching and canvassing for the successful appointee. [HL4360]
§ Baroness AmosThe process used to select the director of operations for Waterways Ireland was open competition.
The job description for the post was originally drawn up by the former interim chief executive at Waterways Ireland and was finalised by the chief executive of Waterways Ireland in consultation with recruitment consultants KPMG.
The chief executive of Waterways Ireland chaired the appointment panel and he has assured the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure that there was no coaching of, or canvassing for the successful appointee.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the arrangements for the appointment of all the directors of Waterways Ireland were approved by the two sponsoring departments in line with the agreement of 30 March 2001 with the Irish Municipal Public and Civil Trade Union; and, if not, for what reasons. [HL4503]
§ Baroness AmosThere is no agreement between the sponsoring departments and the Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union (IMPACT).
I understand that there was an agreement between the former Republic of Ireland Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (DAHGI) and IMPACT, but it would be inappropriate for Her Majesty's Government to comment on it.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Where the Waterways Ireland Director of Marketing and Communications post is based; at what salary level the current appointee started, whether the starting level was approved by the 88WA North/South Ministerial Council, the two sponsoring departments and the two finance departments; and for how long the appointee remained at that level. [HL4507]
§ Baroness AmosThe Director of Marketing and Communications at Waterways Ireland is based in Enniskillen.
On 27 June 2001 the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) approved the salary level of the post at principal officer. This was also approved by the two finance departments, North and South. The sponsoring departments did not have an approval role in this matter.
The post holder started on the minimum of the approved scale and he remained on that point for one year.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the statement by the current Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland, in a letter dated 11 October, that Waterways Ireland's marketing and communication director "was designated and transferred from a predecessor organisation", is correct. [HL4531]
§ Baroness AmosI have nothing further to add to my Answer of 12 October 2004 (WA 50).
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much has been paid in overtime payments to Waterways Ireland staff who work in (a) Eire and (b) the United Kingdom, in each year since creation. [HL4607]
§ Baroness AmosWaterways Ireland overtime payments were as follows:
Period Rol UK October to December 2002 €400,078 - January to December 2003 €1,983,593 €56,226 January to September 2004 €1,515,473 €69,806 The figures are in euros as this is the operating currency of the body. Prior to October 2002 the overtime payments for Waterways Ireland staff were made by the former Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and they are not available.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that the decision to erect a new headquarters for Waterways Ireland in Enniskillen will not be taken until it has been decided whether to hold investigations into alleged mismanagement; and the board's future has been settled. [HL4689]
§ Baroness AmosThe decison to locate the headquarters for Waterways Ireland in Enniskillen was made by the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) on 13 December 1999.
89WAIn July 2004 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland concluded it would be right to give effect to the NSMC decison and the project is now proceeding.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Who is investigating claims of staff bullying at Waterways Ireland; whether all the interviews are completed; whether the investigation will cover both Eire and Northern Ireland locations and staff; and when the investigation will be completed. [HL4605]
§ Baroness AmosI would refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 12 October (WA 50).
The investigation has not been completed and it would therefore be inappropriate at present to make further comment.