Vol. 536 No. 4
48 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance when he expects to conclude his consideration of the steering group report of the Committee of Public Accounts dealing with the Revenue Commissioners; if he has brought proposals to Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14249/01]
I indicated previously in a number of replies to questions on this matter that I was awaiting the outcome of the examination of the steering group report by the Committee of Public Accounts Sub-Committee on Certain Revenue Matters and that I would consider the findings of the Sub-Committee. The Committee of Public Accounts Parliamentary Inquiry into DIRT Final Report was published on 3 April and I am currently considering the committee's recommendations.
As the Deputy is aware, a steering group from my Department, which included two members from the private sector, carried out a review of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. It produced a report containing 48 recommendations involving corporate governance arrangements, accountability, Revenue's core business, organisation structures and support services, and management procedures. In particular, the review recommends the establishment of a new governing board of Revenue to replace the current statutory board to comprise the current Revenue chairman, the other two Revenue Commissioners, and three independent non-executive directors, one of whom should be vice-chairman. The Committee of Public Accounts Parliamentary Inquiry into DIRT Final Report considered the report of the steering group and also recommended that the board of the Revenue Commissioners should have three executive and three non-executive members but that one of non-executive members should be Chairman.
I am giving careful consideration to the recommendations in these two reports and as soon as I have completed my consideration of the issues involved, I will bring proposals to Government.
