Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 23 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 5

Written Answers. - State Bodies Code of Conduct.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

41 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline in relation to each State or semi-State company under the aegis of his Department the companies which have a code of conduct delineating the activities which board members and employees of such bodies can engage in to ensure that an actual or potential conflict of interests does not arise vis-a-vis their duties as members and/or employees of such State bodies and other activities; the way in which this code of conduct, if any, is monitored by his Department; if he will make available in full, any such code of conduct stating the State and semi-State bodies to which it applies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr Flynn)

Board members and chief officers of the commercial State bodies for which my Department are responsible operate under procedures set down by my Department, or under provisions in the relevant Articles of Association, to avoid, as far as possible, any conflict of interest and to deal with any conflict which may arise. Monitoring of these arrangements is achieved through a combination of departmental involvement at board level, in some cases, and regular contact with the bodies.

I recently requested the chairman of all bodies for which I am responsible to review existing procedures and systems with a view to ensuring that the desired standards of conduct are maintained.