Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I made the point that as the Deputy is aware, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has appointed a chairperson who has a particular expertise in corporate governance to that authority. Reports have been considered by the Minister and will be published in due course. I have every confidence that the new chairperson and board in the Dublin Docklands Development Authority now are putting in place the necessary governance requirements to make it consistent with appropriate corporate governance procedures. The reports and any subsequent issues that may arise will be a matter for debate and consideration as to what lessons are to be learned in the event of there being a lack of, or a deficit in, proper governance procedures in that authority. The Minister has introduced a new chairperson who will report on these governance issues and set out recommendations for the future that I believe will meet the best possible standards in the future. As for what has happened in the past, I cannot comment but I am sure these issues can be dealt with by the chairperson and chief executive as they report to the various committees of the Houses in due course.

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