To ask the Minister of Health to outline how having a Chief Executive who is not responsible to, or appointed by, the Board of the organisation they lead constitutes good corporate governance.

As set out in Chapter 3 of Managing Public Money Northern Ireland, each organisation in central government – department, agency, trading fund, HSC body, NDPB or significant arm’s length body must have an Accounting Officer. This person is usually the senior official in the organisation. In line with the Code of Good Practice on Corporate Governance in Central Government Departments, it is now usual for the Accounting Officer to be supported by a board whose structure should be agreed with the responsible minister(s) where it is not set in statute.

The organisation must have an Accounting Officer available for advice or decision as necessary at short notice. When the Accounting Officer is absent and cannot readily be contacted, another senior official should deputise. If a significant absence of more than 4 weeks is planned, the Accounting Officer, should invite DoF (or the sponsor department, as the case may be) to appoint a temporary acting Accounting Officer.