Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am reading section 21. It contains nothing that makes it absolute that the board must be informed about gifts or appointments of consultants and advisers. It refers to overseeing the development of a corporate strategy in respect of major plans of action, risk policy, annual budgets, business plans, setting performance objectives, monitoring corporate performance, overseeing major capital expenditure, ensuring high standards of governance, establishing arrangements for the management and performance of the chief executive and ensuring expenditure limits. I am concerned that the specific issues that I have raised might be hidden within a massive budget handed to the board. The board should be explicitly informed. Section 21 does not assure me in that regard, given the fact that the issues of gifts and appointments of consultants and advisers have been clearly articulated in the Bill. There is a role for the board, but it is not contained within section 21.