Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is much to cover but I just want to raise one item which is puzzling me. It was touched on by Deputy McDonald and others when I was absent. It concerns governance. There is an elephant in the room that disturbs me and should be mentioned, or it certainly deserves explanation. So many of the directors and people in positions of power in the CRC have close associations with the former Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern. I am thinking in particular of the late Mr. Tony Kett, who had a senior position and was a great friend of Mr. Ahern. I am also thinking of Mr. Des Peelo, a former chairman who represented in the tribunal and was a close friend of Mr. Ahern. I am thinking in particular of Mr. Vincent Brady, a current director, who was a Cabinet colleague, Mr. Kiely and Mr. Nugent, who both received preferment under Mr. Ahern's Government. Is this purely a coincidence or are these people part of a very narrow pool who somehow got picked in that way? Is it totally coincidental?