Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 May 1992

Vol. 419 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointments to State Agencies.

John Bruton

Question:

1 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will give details of the persons he or his predecessor appointed to boards of State agencies since the terms of the review of the Joint Programme for Government was agreed on 18 October 1991; if he will outline, in respect of each such appointee, whether he/she has made and signed a declaration in respect of any interests relevant to their membership of such bodies; and, if so, where such declaration may be inspected by members of the public.

The Taoiseach

I propose to circulate a list of the persons appointed in the period to the following: Temple Bar Renewal Ltd; Temple Bar Properties Ltd.; Law Reform Commission; Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery; Board of Visitors of the National Museum of Ireland and Botanic Gardens; National Archives Advisory Council; IMMA; Irish Manuscripts Commission; and National Concert Hall Board.

Copies of the guidelines for State bodies prepared by the Department of Finance and approved by the Government were forwarded recently to all the bodies under the aegis of my Department. Some agencies previously had a system for registration of interests exceeding the provisions of the Companies Acts which require disclosure of directors' interests relating to the company of which they are a director. All will now conform to the new guidelines issued on 11 March 1992 which require a much wider disclosure of interests by directors of State companies, going far beyond matters relating to the company of which they are a director.

As yet, no compelling case has been made for making public this additional information which is essentially given in confidence so that the affairs of the body in question can be properly conducted without conflict of interest.

The guidelines make clear that State companies which are plcs. are subject to the Companies Act in the normal way and also confirm that State companies established by statute only should voluntarily conform to the requirements of the Companies Act until their legislation can be changed.

APPENDIX 1

Company	Name of Appointee	Date of Appointment
Temple Bar Renewal Ltd	Eimear Ó Siochru	5 May 1992
	Arthur Duignan	5 May 1992
Temple Bar Properties Ltd	Michael McNulty	5 May 1992
	Owen Hickey	5 May 1992
Law Reform Commission	Simon P. O'Leary	2 January 1992
	John F. Buckley	2 January 1992
	William Robert Duncan	2 January 1992
	Maureen Gaffney	2 January 1992
	Roderick J. O'Hanlon*	4 March 1992
Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery	Dr. Tony Ryan Sir Alfred Beit	6 May 1992
Dr. Tony Ryan Sir Alfred Beit	6 May 1992
	Ms. Lee Flynn	10 February 1992
	Mr. Austin Dunphy	10 February 1992
Board of Visitors of the National Museum of Ireland and Botanic Gardens	Mr. John Costin Mr. Arthur Gibney	10 February 1992 10 February 1992
	Mr. Aidan Walsh	10 February 1992
	Ms. Mary White	10 February 1992
National Archives Advisory Council	Mr. Justice Niall McCarthy	6 February 1992
	Mr. Patrick Buckley	6 February 1992
	Prof. W. Canny	6 February 1992
	Ms. Mary Clarke	6 February 1992
	Mr. Michael Doody	6 February 1992
	Canon Adrian Empey	6 February 1992
	Prof. R. Fanning	6 February 1992
	Ms. Kerry Holland	6 February 1992
	Dr. Bernard Meehan	6 February 1992
	Prof. D O'Corrain	6 February 1992
	Dr. Brian Trainor	6 February 1992
Board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art	Mr. John O'Mahony	4 February 1992
Irish Manuscripts Commission	Prof. N. Canny	3 February 1992
National Concert Hall Board	Ms. Ellen Gunning	29 January 1992
	Ms. Eileen Gleeson	29 January 1992
	Mr. Tom Kennedy	29 January 1992

*Appointment terminated on 9 April 1992.

Mr. J. Bruton

How can one be sure that the information given is accurate if it is not made public?

The Taoiseach

The requirement for the information is to ensure that no conflict of interests exists within the board of directors of any particular body and to ensure that any business being carried on does not conflict with the personal interests of the directors.

Mr. J. Bruton

How is it possible to know that the information is accurate if it is not made public?

An Ceann Comhairle

We are having repetition.

Mr. J. Bruton

We did not have an answer.

The Taoiseach

The information is required for the purpose for which I have said. I have nothing further to add.

Mr. J. Bruton

Would the Taoiseach not agree that the implication of his answer is that none of those who have been appointed since the Joint Programme for Government has signed the interest in the form required by the circular of 11 March and that none of the declarations has been made public, therefore the public whose money these bodies are administering, have no way of knowing whether the declarations, which are secret, are actually truthful?

The Taoiseach

The Deputy should not take from what I have said the implications which he has inferred.

Mr. J. Bruton

Would the Taoiseach care to answer the question I asked so that I will not have to rely on implications of any kind?

The Taoiseach

The first part of the Deputy's question was whether I accepted the implication. I do not accept the implication.

Mr. G. Mitchell

Would the Taoiseach agree that there is merit in the policy proposal put forward by Fine Gael that an ethics commission made up of the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Ombudsman and a High Court judge should be set up, not just to review the question of possible conflict of interest among Members of the House but also directors of State bodies? Would he agree that this proposal is worthy of consideration?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is a separate question.

Mr. Farrelly

The Taoiseach has no opinion on the matter.