Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [46705/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The State Boards, agencies, regulators or other bodies under the remit of my Department are as follows: · An Post · Bord Gáis Éireann · Bord na Móna · Broadcasting Authority of Ireland · Commission for Communications Regulation · Commission for Energy Regulation · Digital Hub Development Agency · EirGrid · Electricity Supply Board (ESB) · Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission · Inland Fisheries Ireland · Irish National Petroleum Corporation · Mining Board · National Oil Reserves Agency · Ordnance Survey Ireland · Radio Telefís Éireann · Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland · Teilifís na Gaeilge (TG4)

My Department has received an annual report from these bodies for each of the past three years, with the exception of, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the Mining Board.

BAI was established on 1st October 2009, under the Broadcasting Act 2009, and replaced the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission. I expect to receive the 2009 annual report in the coming days. IFI was established under the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 and involved merging the Central Fisheries Boards and the seven regional from 1 July 2010. The Department received an Annual Report from the Central Fisheries Board for the past three years. The Mining Board is an appeals body to adjudicate on decisions of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources concerning the grant/denial, of a mining licence. The body does not produce an annual report.

As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 83 of 8th December 2010, it is a matter for each board to determine the remuneration of its staff, in line with Government policy. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies applies to all of the above bodies. It is a matter for each body to comply with the requirements of the code, including remuneration, and to report annually to me on compliance with those requirements, subject to the provisions of the relevant legislation governing each body.