Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is also my view. The spectre of the CID hung over this process like a dark cloud. Therefore, HRI was effectively neutralised. There was a rush to get the Minister to approve the agreement in order to avoid potential legalities in the future. It is as plain as night follows day and the nose on one's face.

I am somewhat surprised by the comments made by Mr. Moloney. Of course the board was negligent in 2011. In September 2011 two issues were discussed with the board. The chairman was then sent off. When Mr. Keeling arrived in mid-March 2013, some 18 months later, the issues had not been resolved. What did the board do? Did it not discuss the matter every month and agree to get to the root of the two outstanding issues? The board has a mandate. What did it do? Were Mr. Kavanagh, the Department or whoever else spoken to in order to resolve the issue? The board sat on its hands for 18 months and said it was not negligent. Is that good corporate governance?

I am impressed today, not by the level of response but rather the level of non-response. Mr. Keeling wrote a letter to the Department which stated that Mr. Kavanagh's salary was similar to the chief executives of the Turf Club and Eir? That is not right.