Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
699. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address concerns that Bord Bia is due to pay annual rent of €1.5 million for its new offices at 140 Pembroke Road, Dublin 4; if he will seek information from Bord Bia on the alternative office spaces that were explored before settling on 140 Pembroke Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54096/21]
View answerI advise the Deputy that all matters to do with acquisition and disposal of leases are statutorily a reserved function of the Board of An Bord Bia which, under Section 6(2) of the Bord Bia Act, has the power, with my consent, to acquire, hold and dispose of property.
I am satisfied that An Bord Bia, in its acquisition of a new lease, has complied fully with the process and all applicable corporate governance requirements relevant to them as a State Body, as laid out in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
That process included an assessment by An Bord Bia of other possible locations, taking particular account of the requirement that public bodies can only buy or lease buildings with an A3 BER energy rating.
