John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

My Department wrote to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority in August 2009 requesting that a comprehensive review of corporate governance arrangements within the authority be undertaken. Consequently, the authority commissioned two independent consultants' reports to assess its planning and financial procedures. These two reports, together with a covering report from the authority's board, were submitted to me at the beginning of February and are now being considered by my Department, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General.

I recently met the authority's chairperson, Professor Niamh Brennan, to discuss the reports and I understand that under her tenure as chair the authority's board has already introduced measures and new procedures to address many of the issues identified in the reports. I expect the consideration of the reports will be completed within a matter of weeks, at which stage I will bring to Government proposals to respond appropriately to the issues raised.

In considering the requests, my Department and the Office of the Attorney General are mindful of the need to ensure that due process is followed. However, in the interests of transparency, I intend to publish the reports following that process, subject to the advice of the Attorney General. Arising from its 2008 annual accounts, the authority has also prepared a report in respect of the Becbay joint venture. I have appointed independent financial advisers to review and analyse this report, in consultation with my Department and the Department of Finance. I intend to revert to Government on this matter, also within a matter of weeks.

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