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

I have already clarified on Committee Stage that the Bill provides that the board is the governing body of the agency. Senator van Turnhout made a number of points in this regard and I hope it has been clarified that it refers to the agency. The Bill provides that the board is the governing body of the agency with authority in the name of the agency to perform the functions of the agency. I wish to clarify the Minister's relationship to the agency will be to the board and obviously will link in particular with the chairperson, Norah Gibbons, who already has been appointed.