Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 March 2012
76 Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he plans to put in place a prohibition on former members of boards of statutory companies seeking employment with the organisation on whose boards they served, with the exception of worker directors; if he will advise on any existing policy which provides guidance on such matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12992/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans to put in place a prohibition of former members of boards of statutory companies applying for positions with the organisation on whose boards they served. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies provides for the preparation of Codes of Business Conduct for Directors and Employees. It suggests that the Code should recommend that the acceptance of further employment where the potential for conflict of interest arises should be avoided during a reasonable period of time after the exercise of a function in the State body has ceased. Clearly, this is intended to cover a move to another organisation rather than employment within the same organisation.
Of course, great care should always be taken to ensure no conflict of interest arises in relation to any appointment to a State Body. On a slightly separate note, the Programme for Government contains a commitment relating to potential conflict of interest to "amend the rules to ensure that no senior public servant (including political appointees) or Minister can work in the private sector in any area involving a potential conflict of interest with their former area of public employment, until at least two years have elapsed after they have left public office”.
This commitment is being progressed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of its work to introduce a legislative framework for the regulation of lobbyists. A consultation process began before Christmas 2011 in respect of the regulation of lobbying and the issue of conflict of interest was included in this process. The closing date for submissions was 29 February 2012 and more than 50 were received which are currently being reviewed by the Department and will be published on the Department's website next week.
77 Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a detailed list of any State organisations, including non-commercial statutory bodies, which, since 1 January 2009, appointed a person to the post equivalent to chief executive officer or de facto Accounting Officer to such an office, who was, within 12 months of that appointment a member of the board of that organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12995/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the period in question no such appointments were made to bodies under the aegis of my Department.
