Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
474. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the systems in place to agree performance metrics of Chief Executives of agencies within the aegis of his Department; the way in which these are measured; the person or body that carries out the assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11958/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following information has been provided by the Bodies under the Aegis of my Department.
Central Bank
The Central Bank of Ireland is independent in the exercise of its functions.
The Central Bank of Ireland’s Non-Executive Commission Members agree, annually, a set of performance objectives for the Governor aligned with the Bank’s annual business plan and budget.
A review is conducted annually by a sub-set of the Non-Executive Commission Members. This review takes the delivery of the Central Bank’s annual business plan and final budget outcome into account.
The sub-group reports back to the Non-Executive Commission Members on the outcome of the review.
The Chief People Officer is also appraised of the outcome.
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO)
The FSPO was established in January 2018 by the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 (FSPO Act). The FSPO Act provides that, subject to the Act, the Ombudsman is independent in the performance of his or her functions.
While the Minister has no role in the investigation of complaints brought to the FSPO under the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 (the Act), there is a Service Level, Oversight and Performance Delivery Agreement in place between the Department of Finance and the Office of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2016), which sets out the arrangements for oversight, monitoring and reporting and also sets out the FSPO’s commitments regarding the operational roles, responsibilities, outputs and outcomes.
Under Section 40 of the Act, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Council has the function to keep under review the efficiency and effectiveness of the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman prepares an Annual Report on the performance of the functions of the Ombudsman and financial statements of account for the preceding year under Section 24 of the Act. The Report is presented to the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Social Protection and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Ombudsman is accountable to the Public Accounts Committee and to other Oireachtas Committees under Sections 22 and 23 of the Act.
Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI)
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are set for the CEO annually and approved by the Board. The Chair of the Board undertakes a performance review annually with the CEO, assessing performance against agreed KPIs, with the performance evaluation reviewed by the Remuneration Committee and approved by the Board.
Investor Compensation Company (ICCL)
The Chief Operations Officer (COO) of ICCL is an employee of the Central Bank of Ireland and is on secondment to the ICCL. The COO participates in the Central Bank of Ireland’s performance management and development programme. The COO’s performance is assessed annually by the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the ICCL, having regard to progress achieved in relation to the ICCL’s Operational Workplan and Strategic Plan. The assessment is considered by the Board of the ICCL, and the outcome is conveyed to the Central Bank of Ireland.
Irish Fiscal Advisory Council
The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council is an independent statutory body. The Fiscal Council operates within public sector governance regulations and procedures, including those set out in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. In compliance with Section 4 of this Code, the Board (i.e. the Council) undertakes an annual self-assessment evaluation.
The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA)
In the line with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, assessment of the performance of the Chief Executive of NAMA is the responsibility of the Board of NAMA. Having set and agreed the strategic plan of NAMA, the NAMA Board determines formal SMART performance annual objectives for the CEO each year consistent with its strategic plan. Each year, the CEO’s performance is formally assessed against these SMART objectives by the Board, and the outcome is then communicated to the CEO by the NAMA Chair on behalf of the Board.
National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA)
The Agency (NTMA Board) sets the annual objectives for the NTMA Chief Executive following review by the NTMA Remuneration Committee. Each year, the Chief Executive’s performance evaluation against these objectives is reviewed by the Remuneration Committee and approved by the Board. The outcome of the Board’s review of performance, along with the annual objectives approved by the Board for the following year, are shared with the Chief Executive by the Agency Chairperson.
Tax Appeal Commission
The Chairperson of the Tax Appeals Commission (“the Commission”) is accountable to the Minister for Finance for the efficient and effective management of the organisation and for the due performance of her functions. The Chairperson is required to fulfil her obligations of the Commission under section 4F of the Finance (Tax Appeals and Prospectus Regulations) Act 2019 to ensure and maintain efficient and effective systems and procedures in the administration of tax appeals.
Each year, the Chairperson sets out public service performance and equality targets for the forthcoming year in the Revised Estimated Volume for the Public Services. This includes output metrics directly related to the Strategic Programme as well as outcome metrics that describe progress in relation to policy goals or objectives.
The Chairperson also completes a Public Service Performance Report which facilitates the review of performance information presented by the Commission in the Revised Estimates for Public Services.
The Chairperson also has a legal duty to prepare an annual report in relation to the performance of the Commission in the preceding year and submit this report to the Minister on or before 31 March of the following year. This annual report is also laid before each House of the Oireachtas and published on its website.
In addition to the above, there is regular contact between the Department and the Chairperson and the Minister is kept updated.
Revenue
Revenue have advised that the high-level objectives of the Office are set as part of the usual strategic planning process which requires all government departments, including Revenue, to prepare statements of strategy at regular intervals as set out in the Public Service Management Act (PSMA), 1997. Revenue’s Statements of Strategy are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by the Minister for Finance. In giving operational effect to its Strategy, Revenue also sets and publishes annual corporate priorities each year.
The Revenue Commissioners have statutory responsibility for performing their functions and formally report to the Minister for Finance on progress against corporate priorities and the overarching Statement of Strategy through the preparation of a detailed Annual Report in respect of each calendar year. Revenue’s Annual Reports are also laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published on the Revenue website.
The Chairman of the Board of the Revenue Commissioners is the Accounting Officer for Revenue and the Head of Office under the PSMA. In this capacity, the Chairman regularly appears before the Committee on Public Accounts, the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach, and other Committees upon request, in relation to any strategy statement or Annual Report that has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas or indeed any matter falling under the remit of the Office.
Finally, the performance of the Chairman and Revenue is evaluated by the Performance Review Group (PRG), which oversees the annual performance evaluation of Irish Civil Service Secretaries General to ensure accountability and leadership excellence. The PRG reports to the Civil Service Accountability Board, which oversees the wider process.
Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI)
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are set for the CEO annually following recommendations of the SBCI Remuneration Committee and approval by the SBCI Board. The Chair of the SBCI Board undertakes a performance review annually with the CEO, assessing performance against the agreed KPIs, with the performance evaluation reviewed by the SBCI Remuneration Committee and approved by the SBCI Board.
The following Bodies provided a nil response:
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation is in special liquidation.
Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo) has been operationally wound down since July 2017, and the ReBo Dissolution Act 2020 is awaiting commencement.
Credit Union Advisory Committee (CUAC) are an advisory committee to the Minister set out in the Credit Union Act 1997 and does not have a Chief Executive.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) is an independent function. The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is part of the Finance group of Votes. The Accounting Officer is responsible for the overall administration of the Office and is accountable for the use of resources of the Office.
Credit Review Office does not have a Chief Executive. KPI’s for the Office are measured annually and reported to the Department.
