Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is satisfied with the manner in which his Department exercised its oversight role in relation to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15845/10]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the process which existed for the examination of the Annual Report and Audited Accounts of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority following the submission of same to him; the analysis of same that took place over the years; and if concerns were expressed at the time of submission of the annual report and accounts or otherwise about any of the major financial transactions in which it was involved. [15846/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 48 together.

I refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 1 April 2010.

The Dublin Docklands Development Authority is a commercial semi-State body established under the Dublin Docklands Development Authority Act 1997. The Act sets out the oversight functions of the Minister, including the appointment of the Chairperson, the Directors and Members of the Authority's Council, the approval of planning schemes, and the approval of borrowing with the consent of the Minister for Finance. My Department has been represented on the Board and the Council of the Authority since its establishment.

Under section 43 of the Act, the Authority must prepare an Annual Report and Audited Accounts in such form as may be approved by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, and must arrange for the accounts to be submitted to an independent audit. The Authority's accounts have been audited by independent external auditors, KPMG, since 1998.

Prior to the laying of the Annual Report and Accounts before the Houses of the Oireachtas, the contents of the Authority's Annual Report and Accounts are submitted in the first instance to the Minister who brings them to the attention of Government. In this context, and having regard to its general oversight role in relation to the Authority, my Department reviews the Authority's Annual Report and Accounts, including the financial position of the Authority. Following the consideration of the 2008 Annual Accounts, the Authority prepared a report for me regarding its ongoing participation in the Becbay Joint Venture. I appointed independent financial advisers to assess the report, in consultation with my Department and the Department of Finance, and I intend to revert to Government on this matter, in association with the Authority's corporate governance reports, in the coming weeks.