Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. MacSharry. I will stay with the issue because this is very important. I accept what Mr. MacSharry has read which goes on to state, "To address the scope for actual and perceived conflict..." Let us think carefully about what the Minister said. He said one's responsibility was to the institution. However, for public interest directors, there is the potential for actual conflict. In such a case one's over-riding duty is to the public interest. That is very clear, but that is not what has been represented. The delegates are not bound solely and exclusively by company law. One can over-ride company law, as laid out in the legislation and as stated in the narrative provided in the Minister's answer, in the public interest. It is important we understand the scope the delegates have.