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SCIENCE FOUNDATION IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Board Committees
Corporate Governance Committee
The key role for this Committee was to review Science Foundation Ireland ’ s corporate governance structure and core governance documents ; the Committee also undertook responsibility for setting objectives for improving Board and Committee effectiveness and to review codes of ethics for executives , employees and Board members . The key objective of the Committee was to ensure that Science Foundation Ireland governance structures and procedures could achieve certification through external SWIFT 3000 assessment . Science Foundation Ireland was awarded this certification in June 2015 .
The Corporate Governance Committee was formally dissolved on 14 December 2015 with its responsibilities moved into the Audit & Risk Committee .
Number of meetings : 0 Chair : Aidan Donnelly Membership : Ann Riordan and Mary Doyle
Audit & Risk Committee
The Audit & Risk Committee monitors the system of internal controls and financial safeguards , oversees the internal audit function and the conduct of audits of Science Foundation Ireland grants made to external institutions . The Committee ensures a system to monitor risk and provide for mitigating actions is in place and kept up-to-date . The Committee also monitors and reviews Science Foundation Ireland financial reports on a regular basis including the Annual Financial Statements . From 2016 , the Committee is also responsible to oversee compliance with corporate governance requirements , including with the Code of Conduct for the Governance for State Bodies as may be amended or revised .
Number of meetings : Six Chair : Bernie Cullinan , Membership : Geraldine Ruane , Aidan Donnelly , Marcus Breathnach
Audit & Risk Committee 2015 Marcus Breathnach * 3 out of 3 Bernie Cullinan 6 out of 6 Brian Dalton ** 3 out of 3 Aidan Donnelly * 2 out of 2 Pat Duane ** 4 out of 4 Geraldine Ruane 6 out of 6
* Aidan Donnelly and Marcus Breathnach were appointed to the committee .
** Brian Dalton and Pat Duane retired from the committee in September 2015 .
Board Nominations Advisory Committee
This Committee formerly was called the Management Development & Board Nominations Advisory Committee . In September 2015 , the responsibilities of this Committee were divided between two separate Committees , the Board Nominations Advisory Committee and the Management Development & Remuneration Committee . The Board Nominations Advisory Committee considers the skill sets required on the Science Foundation Ireland Board as well as relevant areas of expertise and advises the Minister of Enterprise , Jobs and Innovation accordingly when Board vacancies arise .
Number of meetings : 2 Chair : Ann Riordan Membership : Ann Riordan , Mark Ferguson , Dermot Mulligan , Dermot Curran
Nominations Advisory Committee 2015 Dermot Curran * 1 out of 1 Mark Ferguson 2 out of 2 Dermot Mulligan ** 1 out of 1 Ann Riordan 2 out of 2
* Dermot Curran retired from the Management Development & Board Nominations Advisory Committee in April 2015 .
** Dermot Mulligan was appointed to the Board Nominations Advisory Committee in September 2015 .