asked the Minister for Energy if he will name the persons, other than whole-time civil servants, acting as advisers to himself and his Department on oil matters; and whether he is aware of any such persons having, in their private capacity, an interest in any company engaged in oil exploration, development, refining, sale or distribution.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Interests of Oil Advisers.
31.
There are two such oil advisers, namely, Dr. David Whitbread, petroleum adviser, and Mr. Richard Duffy, petroleum engineer. Mr. Duffy has no interest in any such company. I am aware that Dr. Whitbread holds a relatively small number of shares in some such companies. However, I am fully satisfied that these shareholdings do not present Dr. Whitbread with a conflict of interest in the performance of his functions as petroleum adviser.
Can the Minister say why this conflict of interest does not arise? Would he not accept that, with the best will in the world for the integrity of the person concerned, there is a kind of prima facie conflict of interest involved here?
The size of the shareholding involved was declared by Dr. Whitbread when he was appointed in June 1980. It is so minimal that it would in no way represent a conflict of interest.
Could the Minister tell us what the size of the holding is? If it is so minimal, why is it important for him to hold on to it?
Dr. Whitbread has been concerned that such an accusation of conflict of interests could have been made and he has since severed the directorships he held, minimal though they were.
I am calling Question No. 32.
What is the Minister's definition of "minimal"? It may be different from mine.
I do not have the full details.
Could we have the partial details?
I understand that there was a shareholding of 1 per cent in one part of a group, that was 1 per cent in an overall multinational company.
Would the Minister not accept that 1 per cent of any multinational would be very welcome to some people?
The company concerned had a 1 per cent shareholding in the multinational. Dr. Whitbread did not have a 1 per cent shareholding in it.