Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The authority's accounts are audited by external auditors, KPMG. The authority is specifically excluded, along with many other State and semi-State commercial bodies, from being audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Under existing arrangements, it is open to the joint environment committee to have the authority appear before it, and thus afford the Oireachtas the opportunity to question the authority. I am aware that the committee has asked the authority to come before it next week.

Professor Niamh Brennan was appointed chairperson of the authority, and she has particular expertise in this area. The Minister has asked for a report on the governance situation and is awaiting that report from the authority. All State bodies have been asked to certify that their procedures and practices are in accordance with the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, an updated version of which was published by the Department of Finance in May 2009. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government wrote separately to the chairperson, looking for a comprehensive review of corporate governance in the DDDA. I understand that review is advancing well, but some further work remains to be done, so I cannot speculate on what the review might say. That report will be considered when it is submitted, as will any recommendations arising from it.

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