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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 2

Written Answers. - Code of Conduct for State Companies.

Alan Shatter

Question:

26 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline in relation to each State and semi-State company under the aegis of his Department the companies which have a code of conduct delineating the activities which board members and employees of such bodies can engage in to ensure that an actual or potential conflict of interest does not arise vis-á-vis their duties as members and/or employees of such State bodies and other activities; the way in which this code of conduct, if any, is monitored by his Department; if he will make available in full any such code of conduct stating the State and semi-State bodies to which it applies.

There are two statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, the Combat Poverty Agency and the National Pensions Board.

Under the provisions of section 19 of the Combat Poverty Agency Act, 1986 any member of the agency who is directly or indirectly interested in any company or concern with which the agency proposes to make a contract is required to make this information known to the agency and is precluded from taking part in any discussion or voting on any such contract. The Act also requires that any member of the agency's board or staff, adviser to, or consultant employed by, the agency cannot without the consent of the agency disclose any information obtained by him in the performance of his duties.

Similarly, there is also a statutory requirement on members of the National Pensions Board relating to disclosure of interest. Section 21 of the Pensions Act, 1990 requires the disclosure by members of the pensions board of any material or financial interest in a company or concern with which the board proposes to make any contract. Members affected by this rule are precluded from taking part in any discussion or decision by the board in relation to the proposed contract.

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