Departmental Agencies.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 February 2010

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Questions (49)

Leo Varadkar

Question:

181 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to means, such as internal audit reports or risk registers, of an agency under his Department’s remit that paid for travel for at least 52 non-staff members on a single trip that was referenced in a recent Comptroller and Auditor General report; the monitoring arrangements that are in place by his Department to ensure agency compliance with his Department’s foreign travel guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6260/10]

Written answers

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan)

I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Central Bank and Financial Service Authority of Ireland. Under the Central Bank Acts and the Statute governing the European System of Central Banks the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (the Bank) is an independent institution not subject to direction by either the Minister for Finance or the Government in the discharge of its functions. The management of travel arrangements for the staff of the Bank is determined by the executive and the Board of the Bank. I acknowledge the swift action taken by the Governor of the Bank in ending the practice of payment of travel costs to spouses of staff of the Bank accompanying them to overseas events.

Question No. 182 answered with Question No. 171.