David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of questions and then Teachta Connolly will come back in to finish.

Teachta McDonald raised instances of where the Minister should have been informed of issues relating to the Garda training college. She specifically raised questions about the opening of bank accounts. The final paragraph on page 20 of the internal audit report, which is up on the screen, states:

The Garda Síochána Sportsfield Company Ltd continued to operate with Garda College Management as Directors. The legal standing of the actions of these directors since 2005 is questionable. Even in the period prior to 2005 it is questionable whether Gardaí as public servants should have been acting as Directors of what was set up as a private company without being appointed by or having the expressed permission of the Minister for Justice ... no evidence was found of any Gardaí having received permission from the Minister to act as a director.

To Mr. Waters's knowledge, did the Department receive requests from any member of An Garda Síochána to become a director of these companies? If so, was permission granted?