Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 182: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the members of State boards appointed by her who are directors or senior executives of banks and other financial institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8427/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collected by my Department as it would not constitute essential criteria for appointment to State Boards.

Under the Ethics Acts 1995 and 2001, directors of the boards of public bodies are required to make statements of interests, including details of remunerated employment in excess of €2,600 per annum and any other directorships they hold, to a designated officer of the body (usually the chairperson or chief executive officer) and to the Standards in Public Office Commission on an annual basis. It would be for the officer of the body or the Standards in Public Office Commission to take action if any ethical conflict arose. In accordance with the Ethics legislation, these statements are retained in the body concerned and in the Standards in Public Office Commission. They are not sent to my Department. Disclosure of these statements of interests other than in accordance with the Ethics Acts is an offence under section 35 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, and while there are provisions for disclosure of these statements in the public interest, in the absence of any alleged wrongdoing on the part of the persons involved, such disclosure of personal interests would not seem to me to be justified.