Written answers

Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Department of Foreign Affairs

Departmental Bodies

5:00 am

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 223: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the arrangements that are in place to implement policy in relation to determining and approving the remuneration of each chief executive officer and managing director under the auspices of his Department; the salary of each such chief executive officer and managing director; if such arrangements have been breached in the past three years and the person involved; if he has taken any action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24600/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are no state agencies operating under the auspices of my Department.

There are currently three bodies which operate under the aegis of my Department - The Development Education Advisory Committee, The Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon), and The Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland – United States Commission for Educational Exchange). All members serving on these bodies do so in a voluntary capacity and are not in receipt of a salary or fee.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 224: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the details and outcome of the past three reviews by her Department's Governance Support Division of compliance by her Department's State bodies with the code of practice, in particular to name the State bodies that have not achieved full compliance; the reason for same; the action taken by her; the results of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24395/10]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department of Finance's Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies mandates that the chairperson of each State body must furnish to the relevant Minister a comprehensive annual report confirming, inter alia, that the Code of Practice has been adopted and the extent to which it is being complied with, subject to Board approval.

For the years 2006 to 2008, inclusive, confirmation of the adoption of the Code of Practice and of full compliance with it has been received from the State bodies under the aegis of my Department, with the exception of The Arts Council, Chester Beatty Library (CBL), Crawford Art Gallery Cork, National Gallery of Ireland (NGI) and National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA).

In the case of CBL, this body is a public charitable trust established pursuant to the will of the late Sir Alfred Chester Beatty and is under the ownership of its Board of Trustees. As a charitable institution, it is responsible directly to the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests and complies with the requirements of the Commissioners.

In the case of the Crawford Art Gallery Cork, this body fell under the aegis of my Department only from 2007 during its start-up phase, and its annual accounts for 2008 remain with the Comptroller & Auditor General for examination.

In the case of The Arts Council, NGI and NSCDA, I am assured that procedures have been put in place to ensure compliance with the Code of Practice. My Department is currently in the process of receiving formal written confirmation of these assurances.

With respect of Tourism Ireland, the Code of Practice does not apply to North-South bodies established pursuant to the Good Friday Agreement.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 225: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the arrangements that are in place to implement policy in relation to determining and approving the remuneration of each chief executive officer and managing director under the auspices of her Department; the salary of each such chief executive officer and managing director; if such arrangements have been breached in the past three years and the person involved; if she has taken any action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24606/10]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Government policy in relation to the levels of remuneration appropriate to the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)/Directors of the agencies under the aegis of my Department is determined on the basis of recommendations by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. The Review Body has regard to changes in economic circumstances and in pay levels in the private sector, taking account of the pay of comparable posts in other countries with similar economic and political systems, particularly those in the eurozone.

The remuneration of all agency CEOs/Directors is subject to the agreement of the relevant Minister and the Minister for Finance. I am not aware of any breaches of these arrangements in the past three years in the case of agencies under the remit of my Department. The salaries of these CEOs/Directors are as set out in tabular form below.

AgencyCEO/EquivalentSalary
Arts CouncilDirectorCivil Service Principal Officer Grade 1 Scale
Chester Beatty LibraryDirectorCivil Service Principal Officer Grade 1 Scale
Crawford Art Gallery*DirectorCivil Service Assistant Principal Officer Grade 1 Scale
Fáilte IrelandCEO€177,990
Irish Film BoardCEOCivil Service Principal Officer Grade 1 Scale
Irish Museum of Modern ArtDirectorCivil Service Principal Officer Grade 1 Scale
Irish Sports CouncilCEOCivil Service Principal Officer Grade 1 Scale
National Concert HallDirectorCivil Service Principal Officer Grade 1 Scale
National Gallery of IrelandDirectorCivil Service Principal Officer Grade 1 Scale
National Library of IrelandDirectorCivil Service Principal Officer Grade 1 Scale
National Museum of IrelandDirectorCivil Service Principal OfficerGrade 1 Scale
National Sports CampusDevelopment AuthorityCEO€140,632

In addition, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport and the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment are sponsor Departments for Tourism Ireland. The remuneration of the CEO of Tourism Ireland is determined by the Board of the Company, with the approval of the North-South Ministerial Council and the respective Finance Ministers and is currently set at €169,412.

The salary of the Director of the Crawford Art Gallery Cork is paid by the Vocational Education Committee but is recouped from my Department.

In 2008 my Department circulated a comprehensive Corporate Governance document to assist the bodies under my aegis in fulfilling their Corporate Governance requirements. Finally my Department circulated the revised Code of Practice to these bodies in 2009.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.