Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 6

Written Answers. - Non-Commercial Agencies.

Richard Bruton

Question:

420 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when annual reports were most recently published for each non-commercial agency under the aegis of his 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 him. [18948/97]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to each of the relevant bodies operating under the aegis of my Department is set out below.

The 1996 annual reports for Bord Fáilte Éireann (BFE), CERT and Area Development Management Ltd. (ADM) were published in September 1997, April 1997 and November 1997 respectively. The annual accounts of these bodies which were audited and approved by the Comptroller and Auditor General were published at the same time as their annual reports.

Each of the bodies is a prescribed public body under the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995 and, in accordance with the Act, holders of designated directorships and of designated positions within these bodies are required to furnish statements of registrable interests to the appropriate officer in the public body and to the Public Offices Commission. While the public do not have the right to see a register of members' interests in the case of BFE, both CERT and ADM make returns of members' interests to the Companies Office where they are available for public inspection.

The annual reports of BFE and CERT are submitted to Government and are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. In addition, the annual reports and accounts of both bodies are subject to parliamentary scrutiny through the Public Accounts Committee. As an independent private company, the annual report and accounts of ADM are not subject to the same scrutiny. In no case are members of the public allowed to attend board meetings nor are board papers and minutes available for public inspection.

The bodies report directly to my Department which monitors their respective performance against policy objectives, which I set, from time to time, on behalf of the Government, including overall expenditure from the Department's Vote. However, they retain a clear operational role in relation to their various schemes and services. While the bodies are free to publish relevant to the public without recourse to me, where such information might have significant policy or operational implications, they would as a matter of course, advise me beforehand.