John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

In appointing Professor Niamh Brennan, a recognised expert in corporate governance, as chairperson of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority in March 2009, I have demonstrated my commitment to ensuring that the authority conducts its business and is managed in a transparent and appropriate manner.

I wrote to the authority's chairperson last year, 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. While the reports highlighted some deficiencies in the authority's governance and administrative procedures, they also reviewed improvements introduced to DDDA processes since Professor Brennan's appointment, and identified that many of the deficiencies have since been addressed.

At my request and on foot of advice from the Attorney General, the authority has been engaged in a third-party consultation process about these reports and a related report prepared by the executive board of the authority itself. The purpose of this process has been to give relevant former and current board members and DDDA employees an opportunity to comment on the contents of these reports. I expect that the authority will be submitting the final reports within the next day or so, taking into account the outcome of the consultation process. Once received, I will complete my consideration of the matters involved, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General.

I expect to be in a position to conclude this process, including consideration of such further examination of issues as may be required, and I will revert to the Government on the matter early next month. In the meantime, it would be premature for me to comment further on the issues involved.

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