Vol. 432 No. 3
48 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Finance if he will formulate regulations or guidelines in connection with the provision of services to boards of companies or organisations under the aegis of Departments of State by members of the board of such organisations or by organisations connected with such persons.
On 11 March last year I announced Guidelines for State Bodies which set down the principles which should govern relationships between Departments of State and State bodies under their aegis. The guidelines advise written codes of conduct for directors, including disclosure of interests, and provide for specific procedures to be followed when purchasing goods and services — in particular, that competitive tendering should be the norm save in exceptional circumstances. I am satisfied that those provisions adequately cover the matters referred to in the Deputy's question.
