Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The National Treasury Management Agency is subject to the Ethics in Public Office Act and specific disclosures of interest provisions are set out in the Bill. The members of the NTMA will be designated directors under the Ethics in Public Office Act and required to make annual disclosures of interest statements under same. These statements are made to the Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPO, and copies are retained in the NTMA. The statements are kept for 15 years. NTMA staff members designated under the Act also make annual statements but to the NTMA only.

The code of practice for the governance of State bodies requires that, on appointment, board members should disclose any interest that may cause a conflict. Details of interests disclosed should, as the Deputy mentioned, be kept in a special confidential register and updated annually. Changes in the interim must be notified to the secretary as soon as possible by members. Only the chairperson, the secretary and chief executive should have access to the register. The NTMA already keeps a register in respect of members of the advisory committee and will do so in respect of the board. The treatment of members as regards the disclosure of interests is the same as that of members of the boards of other public bodies. These arrangements are more than adequate. Having set out the process, I hope I have helped to allay the Deputy's concerns. Given what is in place, we cannot accept the amendment.

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