Fine Gael has published a bill aimed at ending what it describes as the practice of “unqualified political cronies” being appointed to State boards and public bodies.
The party’s Public Appointments Transparency Bill seeks to reform the rules governing public appointments.
The bill would require all ministerial appointments made to State boards, State agencies and other public bodies to be brought before the Dáil and the qualifications of the candidate to be included in the order of appointment.
The party says this would give TDs from all parties the opportunity to question appointments that they do not believe to be in the public interest.
Fine Gael front bench spokesman Leo Varadkar said: "For too long cronyism has been at the heart of appointments to State bodies.
He said: “One needs only look at some of the plum appointments over the last number of years to see a wealth of unqualified candidates appointed to State boards and public bodies.”
The bill would also require State agencies furnish to the relevant Oireachtas committee a copy of their annual report, annual accounts, work plan and strategic plan.
Chief executive and board chairpersons would also be required to appear before the relevant Oireachtas committee when called upon to do so.
"Fine Gael is committed to reforming the way that the government does its business. We want to ensure that government and public administration operates to highest standards of transparency, democracy and accountability,” Mr Varadkar said.
“The bill will enhance democratic scrutiny of appointments by the Oireachtas and make State agencies and public bodies more accountable to the people,” he added.