Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will come to it in our work programme. We have had three days of public meetings with selected third level colleges. We must complete our report and we will include this in our report. As to what conclusion we will draw, we must discuss it.

No. 532C, dated 18 May, is from an anonymous individual making some comments about our meeting with the Garda on 4 May 2017. We will note it and include it in our document file on An Garda Síochána.

No. 534C is a copy of correspondence dated 26 May 2017 on the alleged waste of taxpayers' money. This has been sent to the health committee and others. We will just note it. A copy has been sent to us. It was not directly posted to us.

No. 535C, dated 31 May 2017, is from one of our witnesses yesterday, Mr. Michael Howard. We will note it and include it in the documentation in our file on An Garda Síochána.

No. 536C, dated 29 May 2017, is from an individual raising matters about the University of Limerick and the review to take place there. We will note this and include it for consideration when we are drafting our report on third level colleges.

No. 537C, dated 29 May 2017, is from NUI Galway, providing clarification on matters raised on the "RTE Investigates" programme aired on 25 May 2017. The matter relates to project budgets and procurement practices. I propose we consider this as part of our consideration of matters relating to third level colleges. We will come back to it.

The next item on the agenda is reports, statements and accounts received since our last meeting. The only item of accounts lodged since our last meeting are the accounts of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.

They are for the year ended September 2016. I compliment the university on its timely production of accounts. This will be the yard stick to which all other third level institutions will be required to comply.

There is a clear audit opinion. The recognition of the deferred pensions funding asset is a standard issue that is raised with third level colleges by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The statement on governance and internal control discloses specific instances of non-compliance with national procurement policies. Procurements to the value of €929,000 from 14 suppliers not subject to competitive processes are highlighted in the audit opinion. We will write to the college asking for a detailed explanation of those procurements, why that happened and its proposals for ensuring that these matters do not recur. We will seek that letter independently.

That is the end of reports, statements and accounts received, and the next business on our agenda is our work programme. I propose that we enter private session to discuss the work programme up to July. We must deal with the third level colleges issue and the Garda Síochána issue. When we conclude private session, we will resume in public session to deal with the Revenue Commissioners.