Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 February 2026
846. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine If he will review the governance structure of Bord Bia to include a statutory ‘conflict of interest’ clause that prohibits any board member from having a commercial interest in the importation of meat products from third countries that do not meet Irish production standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7353/26]
View answer873. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the title, version date, and last review date of the Department's internal governance guidance used by officials when assessing conflicts of interest for appointments to the board of Bord Bia, including the Chairperson role, beyond the general requirements of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies; and if no internal guidance exists, the reason. [8218/26]
View answer875. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the frequency and format of conflict of interest disclosures required by his Department from Bord Bia board members and the Chairperson, including whether disclosures are required on appointment, annually, and on the occurrence of material changes; and the definition of "material change" applied for the purposes of such disclosure requirements. [8220/26]
View answer876. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of times in each of the last five years that his Department has requested additional information, clarifications, mitigation measures, or recusals from Bord Bia board members arising from conflict of interest disclosures; and the number of cases, if any, where the Department directed that a disclosed interest be managed by recusal or other mitigation steps. [8221/26]
View answer878. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether, since 1 January 2025, he has requested or received any written assurance, report, or governance submission from Bord Bia relating to the management of perceived conflicts of interest at chairperson or board level; and if so, the date received and whether he will publish it or place it in the Oireachtas library, with any personal data redacted. [8223/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 846, 873, 875, 876 and 878 together.
On the Governance of Bord Bia, my Department is guided by both the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (the Code), and the Bord Bia Acts.
The Code provides a framework for the application of best practice in corporate governance by all State bodies, both commercial and non-commercial.
Appointments to the Board of Bord Bia are made in accordance with the Code, Bord Bia’s Governing Acts and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - Guidelines on Appointment to State Bodies (November 2014).
All board members also complete conflict of interest returns annually. This process is managed by Bord Bia.
For each of the last five years I, or my predecessors, have received Bord Bia’s Annual Report and the Chairmans Comprehensive (confidential) Report, Both these reports address conflict of interest returns. No issues in relation to conflict of interest were raised.
The most recent Bord Bia Annual Report, for 2024, was presented to Cabinet on 4th June 2025 and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 6th June 2025.
I am satisfied that all requirements of the Code are being met at both appointment stage and during members terms on the board, and that these Governance arrangements fully protect the statutory role of Bord Bia.
