Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Finance if he received a briefing, written or oral, extracts or a full copy of an internal audit report (details supplied) in view of the fact that a representative from his Department was on the board of FÁS and its audit sub-committee during the timeframe in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27468/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Finance if it is normal practice for the representative of his Department on the FÁS board and audit committee to report or inform him or other officials in the Department of Finance on the activities of FÁS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27469/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has received a briefing relating to FÁS from his Department official on the board of FÁS in the years 2000 to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27470/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Finance the purpose and role of his Department official on the FÁS board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27471/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 189, inclusive, together.

In accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, communications between the board and the relevant Minister are conducted through the chairperson of the board. In this case, the relevant Minister for FÁS is the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment.

As a board member or a member of an audit sub committee, the proper channels for conveying views and opinions on issues related to any aspect of the performance of a State body is via the chairperson of the board or the chairperson of the audit sub-committee, as appropriate. Therefore, it would not be normal procedure for me to receive communication from the Department of Finance representative on the FÁS board or the audit committee and accordingly, I have received no briefings, oral or written, on the internal audit report in question.

Officials of my Department brief Ministers for Finance on an ongoing basis about policy matters arising in FÁS and did so in the period 2000 to 2008. This was not done in their capacity as members of the FÁS Board.

As a member of the board of FÁS, the representatives from the Department of Finance along with all other non executive board members are required to bring effective and independent judgement to bear on issues of strategy, performance, resources, standards of conduct etc. The Department of Finance representative on the board of FÁS can also contribute specific expertise in areas such as public finances, value for money as well as wider public policy that can help to contribute to the more effective functioning of the board.