Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 86: To ask the Minister for Finance the person who is the accounting officer for Anglo Irish Bank in respect of accountability to Dáil Éireann and the expenditure of public money. [21266/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The term "Accounting Officer" in Government accounting terms is specific to the officer responsible to the Oireachtas for having the account of expenditure and receipts of "voted expenditure" prepared and presented for audit. The Accounting Officer, usually the Secretary General or Head of the Department or office in question, may then be called to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of the Dáil to give evidence about the Account and in relation to any other account that the Department or Office is required to prepare.

The capital injections provided to Anglo Irish Bank do not fall to be accounted for in the Appropriation Accounts and as such there is no Accounting Officer, similar to other commercial Semi State bodies. The responsibility, in a commercial bank, for preparing accounts for audit, complying with the requirements of Company Law, financial regulation etc. and accounting for the operation of the bank generally, rests with the Board of the Bank.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 87: To ask the Minister for Finance the action he has taken to end expenditure on corporate entertainment within Anglo Irish Bank. [21267/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

While as Minister and Shareholder I am concerned with all aspects of the bank, operational issues, including decisions in relation to corporate entertainment, are matters for the Board of the bank.

The bank has informed me that, as part of an ongoing cost review, the bank has significantly reduced the level of expenditure on corporate entertainment and corporate hospitality activity over the last two years. Existing hospitality and sponsorship contracts have been renegotiated where possible and others have not been renewed. Currently, such expenditure is limited to instances where the Bank has contractual obligations.

Information on such cost reduction is contained in the Bank's Annual Report and Accounts 2009.