David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have no agenda. The job of members is to evaluate materials we are given in preparation for meetings of the committee. We examine annual accounts - we will examine the opening statements made by the Comptroller and Auditor General and Mr. Meaney - and then do research on the organisations involved and the issues raised at our meetings. That is the basis upon which questions are asked. I hope Mr. Meaney, his colleagues and members understand that. I will first make an observation rather than ask a question. I found the performance so far to be shambolic and disjointed. The level of planning for this meeting leaves a lot to be desired on the part of members of the board, which raises concerns for me. I am giving my opinion, which the witnesses do not have to accept.

I will move on to questions. In all the material I have read, I have noted mismanagement, poor decision making, bad judgment and incompetence for which nobody has been held to account. Mr. Gleeson, one of the board members and some of the other witnesses responded to questions by making statements to the effect that they could not be held to account, the landscape was changing or something happened before their time. We heard excuse after excuse, with nobody taking responsibility for anything as far as I can see. Somebody else, the people who came before, were blamed.

My first question is directed at Mr. Meaney, although I will also put questions to other witnesses. I am frustrated by the presentations given and the complete lack of acceptance of any wrongdoing, mismanagement or poor decision making. I believe it was Dr. Brady who referred to good leadership and management, a statement I will return to in a few minutes. Can Mr. Meaney tell me that there was no evidence of mismanagement, poor decision making, bad judgment or incompetence by the board or the previous board of the organisation?