Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies.

Michael Ring

Question:

127 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost of a recent excursion to a hotel (details supplied) to the Pensions Board; if it was approved by her Department; the number of people who attended; the breakdown of the costs for food, drink, accommodation and golf; the costs for consultants alone; the costs for those who attended; her views on whether it is justified to spend this amount of money on an excursion when recent reports claim that many people are living on the poverty line; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16305/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

The event in question was arranged by the Pensions Board and involved an all day meeting related to the carrying out of a mid-term review, with the help of a consultant, of the board's strategy, having regard, inter alia, to recent changes affecting the pensions industry. The Pensions Board is a statutory body which is financed by fees payable by occupational pension schemes. While I have overall responsibility for the board, it is not a matter for my Department to approve the details of the board's conduct of its business. It is appropriate that the board would review its operations from time to time and I have full confidence in the board and its management to conduct its business in a professional and effective way. I have discussed this issue with the chief executive of the Pensions Board.