Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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274. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received complaints, internal correspondence, or protected disclosures concerning potential breaches of corporate governance, conflicts of interest, or procedural irregularities during the recent appointment of a chief executive at a State-owned port company under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44811/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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275. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether his Department was formally informed by members of the board of a State owned port company of any divergence of views, allegations of conflict of interest, or concerns regarding adherence to statutory or advertised criteria during the recruitment of a new chief executive; and the actions, if any, that were taken in response. [44812/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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276. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm whether the candidate ultimately appointed as chief executive of a State owned port company met the advertised requirements, specifically the need for substantial commercial experience at or near CEO level within a complex, customer facing B2B organisation with a significant infrastructure asset base; and if his Department undertook any independent review of compliance with the eligibility framework. [44813/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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277. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether the Department maintains specific protocols or published guidance for identifying and managing potential or perceived conflicts of interest involving members of selection panels in semi-State executive recruitment processes; and whether such protocols were followed during the recent executive appointment at a State owned port company [44814/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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278. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether his Department has received and reviewed the most recent external governance evaluation of a State port company where serious internal disagreement was recorded during a senior executive recruitment process; and if he will publish or present to the Oireachtas Transport Committee the findings of the review alongside any available records of internal board performance self-assessments conducted during the same period. [44815/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 to 278, inclusive, together.

The appointment of the CEO to the Port of Cork Company, a Commercial State body under my remit, was made in accordance with applicable legislation and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016 (the Code), with terms and conditions for the role approved by me and sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

Recruitment for the position of CEO for the Port of Cork Company was undertaken by the Board of Directors by way of open competition, facilitated by an external recruitment specialist.

As outlined in section 35 (3) of the Harbours Act 1996, it is the directors of the company who appoint the CEO after consultation with the Minister. In keeping with the legislative requirements, I as Minister have no further role to play in the appointment.

In accordance with the Code, the delivery of good governance standards across all aspects of the Ports activities is primarily a matter for the board, with my Department providing oversight to ensure good governance is achieved across a broad range of activities, including the process around CEO appointments. My Department is in regular contact with the company and monitors any such issues.

Any conflicts of interest, whether real or perceived or issues of concern that arise are a matter for the board of the company to evaluate in compliance with the Governance Code of Conduct adopted by the board. My Department engaged with non-executive board members on any issues that arose, including with the Chair as appropriate, while matters were ongoing.

As required under the Code, the Board carries out internal self-assessment reviews of its own performance and that of its Board committees on an annual basis An external evaluation as required to be carried out at least every 3 years was undertaken in Q4 2024 There is no obligation on the board to present these reviews to my Department.

As the Deputy is aware, any Protected Disclosures received are dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.