Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would like to tease that out in more detail but I am pressed for time. There has been major criticism within the Department - I acknowledge it was before Mr. Moran took over as Secretary General - of the herd mentality that existed in the Department. We know people in the Department tried to issue warning signals to the previous Government throughout the crisis. Robert Pye and Marie Mackle have been well reported in the media in terms of their concerns and their attempts within the Department to raise issues and answer politicians' parliamentary questions that they thought were a true and honest reflection of the dangers the economy was facing in terms of the Government strategy. With hindsight we know it was a correct reflection. People from outside the Department like Morgan Kelly were giving advice as well. How can Mr. Moran satisfy this committee or indeed himself that such a situation no longer exists? If there is a dissenting voice within the Department, how do we ensure there is not another Maria Mackle or Robert Pye situation? What structures have been put in place to deal with that? In answering that, Mr. Moran might tell us how many of the 50 recommendations in the Wright report, the independent report on strengthening the Department of Finance, have been implemented or are still outstanding?