asked the Taoiseach if there is a difference in the degree of day-to-day supervision by him, accountability to the Oireachtas and freedom to borrow or employ additional staff of semi-State bodies under his aegis which are (a) wholly self-financing, (b) otherwise wholly self-financing but for the receipt of loans at terms more favourable than market-rates from the Government, (c) in receipt of a State subsidy but with other revenue, (d) wholly State-financed; and if he will give the names of the State bodies in each of the above categories.
Written Answers. - Semi-State Bodies.
155.
The only State-sponsored bodies under the aegis of my Department are An Chomhairle Ealaíon (category (c)) and the Law Reform Commission (category (d)).
Apart from some minor receipts and grants which the council may agree to accept for specific purposes, An Chomhairle Ealaíon is financed by a grant-in-aid under Vote No. 5. The council's accounts in relation to this are presented by me to the Houses of the Oireachtas. The council enjoys the degree of independence as to supervision and accountability normally enjoyed by the recipient of a grant-in-aid. The Arts Acts do not make any specific provision for borrowing powers for the council. I appoint the council and an officer of my Department has been a member since 1973. Section 8 (1) of the Arts Act, 1951, as amended provides that the council may appoint or engage such and (subject to my approval) so many officers and servants (in addition to the Director) as they think fit.
The Law Reform Commission are financed by a grant under section 8 of the Law Reform Commission Act, 1975, which is paid out of subhead G of Vote 12, Office of the Attorney General. The commission's accounts are required to be presented by the Minister for Finance to the Houses of the Oireachtas under section 9 of the Act. There is no specific provision in the Law Reform Commission Act for borrowing powers for the commission. The functions of the commission are the review of the law and, after due examination, research and consultation, the formulation of proposals for law reform. The commission's programmes of law reform are submitted by me to the Government who may approve them with or without modification. The Attorney General may also request the commission to examine and formulate proposals for the reform of any branch of the law. The members of the Law Reform Commission are appointed by the Government.
Section 10 of the Law Reform Commission Act, 1975, provides for the appointment of staff by the commission, with the approval of the Minister for the Public Service, after consultation with the Attorney General.