Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the basis of what was asked of me a number of months ago, which was to interfere in the operations of CIB and MABS, I do not have the authority to interfere in the operations of CIB or MABS. The reason this process was undertaken was because of the concern about their governance and accountability issues in the form of their annual reports, which must be satisfactory to the Department because ultimately it is our Department that gives the money to fund these services on behalf of the taxpayer. This is the reason the governance issues have been changed and it is the reason the processes are now being changed. Much and all as I might like it, and I know that Deputy O'Dea has made suggestions to me before that I should interfere, I do not have the statutory authority to interfere, encourage or cajole anybody in an independent agency while they are making changes to their governance issues.