Children's Health Act 2018

Functions of Chief Executive Officer

24. (1) The Chief Executive Officer shall—

(a) carry on and manage, and control generally, the administration and business of Children’s Health Ireland and such other functions as are conferred on him or her by or under this Act or any other enactment,

(b) perform such other functions as may be determined by the Board,

(c) provide the Board with such information (including financial information) relating to the performance of his or her functions as the Board may require.

(2) The Chief Executive Officer shall be accountable to the Board for—

(a) the performance of his or her functions, and

(b) the implementation of the Board’s strategic plan in the most efficient and effective manner.

(3) The Chief Executive Officer may make proposals to the Board on any matter relating to the functions of Children’s Health Ireland.

(4) If the Chief Executive Officer is absent or the position of Chief Executive Officer is vacant, the functions of the Chief Executive Officer under this section may be performed by an employee of Children’s Health Ireland designated by the Board.

(5) The Chief Executive Officer, whenever required in writing to do so by the Committee of Dáil Éireann established under the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann to examine and report to Dáil Éireann on the annual financial statements and reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General, shall give evidence to that Committee on—

(a) the general regularity and propriety of the transactions recorded or required to be recorded in any book or other record of account subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General that Children’s Health Ireland is required by this Act to prepare,

(b) the economy and efficiency of Children’s Health Ireland in the use of its resources,

(c) the systems, procedures and practices employed by Children’s Health Ireland for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of its operations, and

(d) any matter affecting Children’s Health Ireland referred to in a special report of the Comptroller and Auditor General under section 11(2) of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993 , or in any other report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (in so far as it relates to a matter specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c)) that is laid before Dáil Éireann.

(6) When appearing before a Committee referred to in subsection (5), the Chief Executive Officer shall appear as an accountable person and not as an accounting officer.

(7) In the performance of the duties of the Chief Executive Officer under subsection (5), the Chief Executive Officer shall not question or express an opinion on the merits of—

(a) any policy of the Government or of a Minister of the Government, or

(b) the objectives of such a policy.