Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Section 21(1) clearly states, "the board shall be the governing body of the agency with authority, in the name of the agency, to perform the functions of the agency." Section 21(3) states, "the board of the agency shall be accountable to the Minister for the performance of its functions". The Minister’s relationship to the agency will be to the board of the agency.

Sections 41 and 44 both provide for engagement between the Minister and the agency. I will have that engagement with the incoming chair of the board, Ms Norah Gibbons. In this connection, both the performance framework, as per section 41, and a performance statement, as per section 44, shall be developed by the Minister and provided to the board of the agency. It will be then for the board to develop a corporate plan and a business plan, respectively. I am satisfied that references to the agency in this context are to the board of the agency. It is an unnecessary amendment as it is clarified in earlier sections and I will not accept it.