Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be concise and brief, because I missed much of the afternoon. I was in the Dáil speaking during Oral Questions and Topical Issues. It happened to come up that way. I have no wish to go over ground that has already been covered or questions that have already been asked, because it would only amount to repetition at this hour of the evening.

First, I will make an observation. From what I have heard and from the evidence I have read, the financial controls at Templemore Garda training college were completely out of control. There was no control. As far as oversight and corporate governance is concerned there was no control, from what I have heard. I think it is a poor reflection on everyone to note that this was happening for decades. The figures I have heard suggest this was the case since 1982, but nothing happened until 2015, really.

It is unbelievable, in this modern day and age, that such time elapsed and people or individuals were allowed to carry on as if they owned the place.

As many as 13 bank accounts have been closed down. What type of business has 13 bank accounts? How many bank accounts did Templemore college have in total? What type of bank accounts were they? Who used them? It sounds to me like the accounts were used to operate a slush fund. Proper governance would never allow such behaviour. What were the bank accounts used for? Were there 30, 40 or more bank accounts?