Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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113. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of senior staff members of his Department or of State bodies under the aegis of his Department who are also on the boards of bodies registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or on the board of bodies which have had to disclose that they engaged in lobbying State authorities; if it is intended to issue directions as to the appropriateness of such involvement in these bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9075/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that there is currently one senior staff member in my Department on the board of a body that meets the criteria set out in the question. For the information of the Deputy, this person is on the board of a charity.

With the exception of the Office of Public Works (OPW), there are currently no senior staff members in the bodies under the aegis of my Department on boards that meet the criteria set out in the question. The OPW has advised my Department that there are currently three senior staff members on the boards of bodies that meet the criteria in question.

Directions in relation to the involvement of senior staff members with State Boards are set out in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and relevant circulars. Directions in relation to the involvement of senior staff members on the boards of other bodies registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 would similarly be set out in the relevant circulars and/or contracts covering terms and conditions of employment. Furthermore, the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 (the Ethics Acts) provide for annual disclosure of interests for designated positions of employment in the Civil and Public Service at and above Principal Officer grade or equivalent and certain other positions whose work area could produce conflicts of interest and the disclosure of material interest in an official function.