Burton Calls For More State Boards Appointed Through Public System

Burton calls for more state boards appointed through public system

Joan Burton says she would like to see more members of state boards appointed through the public appointments system. The bookies favourite to become party leader next week was reacting toNews that a Labour party by-election candidate and a former Fine Gael TD have been added to the board of Bord na Mona. The move was approved at cabinet by Labour's Pat Rabbitte as Communications Minister. His party colleague Joan Burton defended one of the appointees this morning but says she would like to see this done more often through the public channels. "I have approached the appointments I've made - and they've been few enough - via the public appointments service" she said. "For instance, somebody who was well-known as a whistleblower in relation to the banking - I specifically sought to go outside". "I know one of the individuals who is an absolutely committed environmentalist - I understand that he would serve on this board without payment" she added.