Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 671: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of staff in his Department that serve as directors of companies arising from their employment; the names of the companies involved; the annual remuneration received, if any; if they are indemnified by his Department in respect of their role as directors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16425/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are currently three staff in my Department serving as directors on Boards of agencies arising from their employment within the Department. Mr Declan Hayes, who works in the Department's Road Safety Division, serves on the board of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety while Mr Jurgen Whyte, the Chief Aeronautical Officer, and Mr Brian Hogan, the Chief Surveyor, both serve on the Marine Casualty Investigation Board. They do not receive any remuneration for serving on the Boards.

I understand from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that the Office of the Attorney General has advised that people working for the State are entitled to be indemnified for such work. The indemnification would cover any reasonable legal fees and/or damages incurred where people are sued for undertaking their duties on behalf of the State provided they acted in good faith and in a bona fide manner. The State carries its own insurance in this regard. This indemnity would apply to those civil servants appointed to State boards as part of their official duties.