Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 6

Written Answers. - Non-Commercial Agencies.

Richard Bruton

Question:

348 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands when annual reports were most recently published for each non-commercial agency under the aegis of her Department; when annual accounts were most recently published by these bodies; whether they are subject to outside scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General or another independent audit body; whether the public have a right to see a register of members' interests in relation to these bodies; whether they allow members of the public attend their meetings; whether board papers or minutes are available for public inspection where matters of commercial or legal confidentiality are not involved; whether there is a procedure specifying the circumstances in which he may direct these bodies; and whether they are free to publish advice relevant to the public without recourse to her. [18949/97]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

Details concerning the publication of annual reports-accounts by non-commercial bodies under the aegis of my Department are as follows:

Body	Most recently published Annual Report, and when published	Most recently published Accounts, and when published
Údarás na Gaeltachta	1996 (October 1997)	1996 (October 1997)
Bord na Gaeilge	1996 (September 1997)	1995 (September 1995)
An Chomhairle Oidhreachta	First Report, in respect of the period	Not yet published, currently being finalised
	July 1995 to end 1996, being finalised at present
National Concert Hall	1996 (July 1997)	1996 (July 1997)
IMMA	–	1995 (December 1996)
National Gallery of Ireland	1996 (October 1997)	1996 (October 1997)
An Chomhairle Ealaíon	1995 (December 1996)	1995 (December 1996)
Independent Radio and Television Commission	1995 (September 1997)	1995 (September 1997)
Bórd Scannán na hÉireann	1995 (December 1996)	Review of 1995-96 (December 1996)

All of the bodies concerned are subject to outside scrutiny and their annual reports are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas where required under the relevant establishing legislation.

The public do not have access to the registers of members' interests in relation to those bodies and their registers are not subject to Parliamentary scrutiny although they are submitted by the bodies to the Commission established under the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995.

Attendance by members of the public is not generally permitted at their board meetings and board papers or minutes of such meetings are not made available for public inspection.

In some of the relevant legislation, examples being section 31 of the Irish Film Board Act, 1980 in relation to Bord Scannán na hÉireann; section 17 of the Radio and Television Act, 1988 - and Paragraphs 10 and 17 of the Schedule to that Act — in the case of the Independent Radio and Television Commission; sections 5(4), 8, and 21 of the Heritage Act, 1995, in the case of An Chomhairle Oidhreachta; section 19 of An tAcht Um Bord na Gaeilge, 1978; and section 20 of An tAcht Um Údarás na Gaeltachta, 1979, there are provisions under which I can either direct the body in question to provide information for myself, or direct it to perform a particular task.

The bodies concerned are generally free to publish advice relevant to the public without recourse to me.