Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he has received an annual report for each of the past three years from the chairman of all State bodies under the auspices of his Department; if the pay of chief executives and employees of such bodies is fully in accordance with Government policy; if he will list any such bodies where this requirement under the code of practice for the governance of State bodies has not been met or no report has been received; if he will provide full details of such issues in such reports and if these reports will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46715/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department. The Social Welfare Tribunal The Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairman and four ordinary members. The members are not in receipt of an annual salary, they are paid appearance fees for attending hearings or meetings. They would also qualify for travel and subsistence expenses if necessary. The Social Welfare Tribunal is a statutory body set up in 1982 to deal with cases where entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance is refused due to involvement in a trade dispute. The Chairman of the Social Welfare Tribunal is not required to furnish an annual report. Citizens Information Board In line with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, the Citizens Information Board's Annual Report is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. An Annual Report in respect of 2007 and 2008 has been received and was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. A draft Annual Report for 2009 was received earlier in the year. I understand submission of the audited Annual Report for 2009 is imminent and will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in due course. Pending receipt of the 2009 Annual Report, I am satisfied the Citizens Information Board is complying fully with Government Policy and in discharging its statutory duties in line with the Comhairle Act 2000 and the Citizens Information Act 2007. The Pension Board The Chairman of the Pensions Board has submitted an annual report for each of the past three years to the Minister and all reports have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The pay of the Chief Executive and employees is in accordance with Government policy and the Pensions Board has complied with the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. Office of the Pension Ombudsman The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman has submitted, within the time specified, an Annual Report to the Minister since 2004 and all reports up until the 2008 Annual Report have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is planned to bring the 2009 Annual Report to Government as soon as possible. The pay of the Pensions Ombudsman and his staff are fully in accordance with Government policy. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman has complied with the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.