Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Deputy Ó Caoláin will be aware, on Committee Stage I accepted quite a number of amendments on a clarification that the relationship was to the board of the agency. Section 21(1) is clear. It states, "The Board shall be the governing body of the Agency with authority, in the name of the Agency, ...". In other aspects of the Bill, I made it clear, in terms of the performance and governance of the agency, that at all times the relationship of the Minister is with, and the directions to the agency from the Minister are to, the board of the agency.

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