Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Flynn for being here today. I concur with the comments of Deputy Nolan in thanking him and SIPTU for participating in the committee. Others have to come before it who do not want to do so. He was eager to do so and we very much appreciate that.

We have talked about this for a long time over a large number of meetings. I have read widely on the issue. I take and accept Mr. O'Flynn's account of events. SIPTU was possibly used, if I can use that word, as a vehicle for what was wrongdoing and spending taxpayers' money in an inappropriate fashion.

Mr. Merrigan was afforded an opportunity to be here but, based on his own legal advice or whatever reason, has chosen, as he is entitled, not to be here. It is highly regrettable but that is his prerogative. Mr O'Flynn said something to the effect that he could have called the fund whatever he wanted. He should have called it a slush fund.

I take Mr. O'Flynn's sincerity on this matter but I have no doubt of the aims of the fund in terms of training and upskilling. The €46,000 paid on a credit card in one single restaurant and bar, the 74 foreign trips of which six happened to coincide with St. Patrick's Day and the five private holidays to Lanzarote which were subsequently refunded by the fund administrator but nonetheless were paid on a credit card by accident did not have much to do with social partnership and certainly did not have much to do with upskilling or training low skilled workers.

Mr. O'Flynn was a very senior trade union official, and I would like to hear his reaction and how he felt when this came into the public domain. A fund which was set up for noble purposes was used for these sorts of thing.