Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 1995

Vol. 459 No. 6

Written Answers. - CIE Board.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

173 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he will clarify the situation in relation to his recent request to the directors of CIE to resign, particularly in relation to reports that he did so on receipt of a communication that the Board of CIE were no longer committed to his policy directions; the way in which this communication from the Board of CIE was conveyed; if it was signed or conveyed by the deputy Board Chairperson, by some other Board Member, by a CIE Executive attending board meetings or by a CIE Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18628/95]

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

174 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communication if he had received a report from the board of CIE after it considered the request following the decision of the Joint Committee on Commercial State-Sponsored Bodies calling for the property sub-committee to be reconstituted; if the report gives details of the board's refusal to accept the request; if it was an unanimous decision; if the Chairman dissented from the decision; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the decision was strongly driven by the worker directors who did not wish to be sidelined and wanted decisions made at full Board meetings. [18629/95]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together.

I did not ask for or receive a report from the Board of Córas Iompair Éireann after it had considered the resolution by the Joint Committee on Commercial State-sponsored Bodies calling on the board to reinstate immediately it's property sub-committee. I understand that the resolution was conveyed directly to CIE by the Secretary of the Joint Committee. However, I am aware that the matter was addressed in a letter from the CIE group secretary to the Secretary to the Government, following the Government's decision of 17 November 1995 to seek the resignation of board members. I understand that the letter outlined the board's reasons for refusing the joint committee's request and indicated, at its meeting on 15 November 1995, that the board had unanimously confirmed its decision of 6 September 1995 that the reinstatement of the property sub-committee did not seem appropriate or necessary.

At their meeting on 17 November 1995 the Government decided that they no longer had confidence that the board of Córas Iompair Éireann as a whole could function in an effective manner and resolved to restructure the board. The basis for that decision was set out fully in my replies to Questions Nos. 3 and 33 on 22 November last.