76 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if any employee at senior management level of any State body or organisation under the auspices of her Department has received any bonus payment in the past 12 months; if so, the amounts received and the reasons for same; the person who made the decision to grant this payment and the reason for same; if this matter was referred to her or if she was informed of the matter; if so, the views she expressed; the response, if any, from the body concerned; the subsequent decision taken by such body; the rank of the recipient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46590/10]

In respect of the agencies currently under the aegis of my Department whose remuneration includes bonuses, decisions to award payments at senior management level in any instance are not made by me as Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport but, rather, by the boards of the agencies concerned, subject to the terms and criteria contained in the associated remuneration schemes agreed with the CEOs, or equivalents. Accordingly, the basis of any such awards are matters for the boards of the agencies concerned. However, the payment of bonuses is suspended pursuant to the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. The relevant agencies under the aegis of my Department have been requested to implement these provisions.