John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No. 4B is individual correspondence. No. 4B.1 is correspondence dated 24 January 2013 from Ms Jacinta Somers, Drinagh, County Wexford, re alleged misappropriation of funds at Páirc Carman, to be noted. The committee is awaiting a response from the Department on that. No. 4B.2 is correspondence dated 25 January 2013 from Bernie Lloyd, Windmill residents group, County Wexford, re proposed courthouse complex at Wygram, Wexford town, to be noted. A comprehensive reply will issue to Bernie Lloyd this week outlining the role of the committee in respect of this issue.

It is fair to say that some members of the public and groups that write to the committee often ask why we would write to each Department or agency to get the up-to-date position on the issue raised. That is an important part of our work, and perhaps in replying to individuals and groups it should be explained to them that the first step in the process of the work we undertake is to obtain the information from the relevant Department or agency in answer to the query raised and, arising from that, it may be judged by the committee that a more in-depth response is required or that an investigation of one kind or another is necessary.

No. 4B.3 is correspondence dated 30 January 2013 from Mr. Ray Mitchell, parliamentary and regulatory affairs division, Health Service Executive, re providing information previously requested regarding right of place, to be noted and a copy forwarded to Mr. Thomas W. Brennan, the original complainant.

I want to deal with an item of correspondence that came before the committee in recent weeks regarding Charles Farrell. It is in the members' correspondence. Mr. Michael Brosnan was presenting the case on behalf of the farmer concerned. I draw the members' attention to the fact that while this issue dates back to 1977, it has been ongoing since 1977. It is my understanding that there was a court case in the middle of this period which Mr. Farrell won, and that some of the information on which he was relying was not made available until he requested it under the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act. Further correspondence on this was received yesterday and in spite of the fact that the Department would say it has already stated that it does not intend to engage in any further futile correspondence on this matter, and that that remains the position, I believe it is necessary for the Department to provide the information Mr. Farrell has requested because it has a bearing on his case. There is an exposure to the State in regard to what might be due to Mr. Farrell and, therefore, in my opinion the Committee of Public Accounts should request the documentation necessary for us to make a judgment call on this matter. Arising from the correspondence, I will ask the Department to furnish the information to us so that, with the other correspondence we received, we can make a call as to whether further action is necessary, but I believe the Department must give us this information and that there is a case to be answered by the Department. It is the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and it is correspondence dated 19 December 2012.