Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
71. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to initiate reviews of all the boards or executive boards of every State or semi-State company under her Department’s remit to ensure the mismanagement displayed at RTÉ is not replicated in other State or semi-State companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34583/23]
View answerEffective governance oversight and accountability of all the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department has been and will continue to be a priority for both me as Minister and my officials.
Within my Department, dedicated business units manage the day-to-day and operational relationship with each respective State Body. This includes agreement of annual Oversight Agreements and, where appropriate, Performance Delivery Agreements with each body, quarterly governance meetings, financial monitoring, and regulatory oversight as appropriate, consistent with advice from the Office of the Comptroller and Audit General who have an audit function in respect of the majority of bodies under the aegis of my Department. The accounts of all state bodies under the aegis of my Department are independently audited.
Performance Delivery Agreements in turn require grant aided bodies to confirm adherence to all public financial and procurement procedures including the DPENDPR Circular: 24/2021 on the Timely Production and Submission of Financial Statements/Accounts of State Bodies; DPENDPR Circular: 13/2014 on the Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds; and DPENDPR Circular 13/13: The Public Spending Code: Expenditure Planning, Appraisal & Evaluation in the Irish Public Service - Standard Rules & Procedures.
The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2016) is designed to ensure that both commercial and non-commercial State bodies meet the highest standards of corporate governance and provides a framework for the application of best practice. As Minister, I receive an annual report from the Chairperson of each State body outlining their compliance with the Code in accordance with the provisions of the Code.
In addition, a dedicated State Body Governance unit has been established within the Department to provide governance oversight and assurance in relation to compliance with the provisions of this Code. The Unit operates robust governance monitoring processes and procedures in relation to the Code and supports business units to effectively carry out their governance obligations, including:
• Regular monitoring and oversight reporting to senior management on the implementation of governance practices and compliance with the Code, including inter alia the operation of Oversight and Performance Delivery Agreements and regular liaison meetings across all relevant state bodies;
• Reviewing the operation of the 2016 Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies in bodies under the aegis of the Department to ensure adherence to the highest standards of governance;
• Providing advice and guidance to the business unit in relation to governance related matters
While the processes and structures in place across my Department provide evidence of compliance with the provisions of the Code, in terms of the financial and governance reviews recently approved by Government in respect of RTÉ, I am conscious that there may be learnings which will have relevance to other state bodies under the aegis of the Department and the outcome of these reviews will be considered in this wider context when available.
