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

Are the minutes of the meeting of 3 December 2015 agreed? Agreed.

We have received notification from the HSE that sections of the Conal Devine report will be released to the requestor today. The minute of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, which is the formal reply to our report on the wards of court is still being worked on in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Many members have been in contact about this, but it is not ready as yet. Members will be circulated with a draft report on the costs associated with undelivered capital projects. If members wish to make any amendments please contact the clerk before close of business on Monday.

Correspondence has been received from Mr. Sean Ó Foghlú, Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills, regarding Tralee IT, to be noted and published. We can deal with this matter today when the Secretary General is before the committee.

Correspondence has been received from Mr. William Treacy regarding the Horse Racing Ireland Bill, to be noted. As outlined previously, the committee is not in a position to assist Mr. Treacy in this matter.

No. 3B.2 is correspondence, dated 1 December 2015, from an anonymous source regarding fraud at DIT Aungier Street, to be noted and forwarded to the Department and the HEA for a note on the matters raised.

Correspondence has been received from Maples and Calder Solicitors regarding Dublin Waterworld Limited v. National Sports Campus Development Authority, to be noted. Maples and Calder represent the plaintiff in this case, Dublin Waterworld Limited. The committee examined an issue in 2011 and 2012 and reported on the matter. This correspondence seeks the permission of the committee to waive privilege so as to allow the defendant to get access to certain categories of documents in accordance with a High Court order. There are two categories of documents. The first is correspondence to the committee that now forms the record of the committee. All of this has been published on our website and all was given to the Department. As these documents are already in the public domain, the advice is that no issues of privilege arise and the plaintiff can be notified. The second category of documents relates to records maintained by the plaintiff of correspondence with individual members. These are not matters for the committee but for the plaintiff. The matter is covered in Part 10 of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013. The Clerk will write to Maples and Calder and apprise them of the position.

No. 3B.4 is correspondence, dated 1 December 2015, from Mr. Jim Breslin, Secretary General of the Department of Health, regarding the registration of nurses, to be noted.

No. 3B.5 is correspondence received from Mr. Niall Cody, Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, regarding Mr. Patrick Coughlan, to be noted.

Nos. 3C.1 to 3C.9 are briefing documents and opening statements for today’s meeting, all to be published.

I ask the Comptroller and Auditor General to comment on No. 4.1, which comprises the financial statements of the Institute of Technology, Tallaght.