Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

It was not just an interpersonal issue in the case of Mr. Barrett and Mr. Culhane. Mr. Kelly, in his opening statement, which I am sure the Garda Commissioner had read when she appeared before the committee a couple of weeks ago, drew our attention to the reasons he was not able to do his job. He referred, for example, to the attitude to the public money that was provided for recruits and, for example, to Deputy Commissioner Rice's attitude to what that money was for. In fact, I asked Ms Anne Marie McMahon, whose rank I cannot recall, and Mr. Pat McCabe about this and they were both of the opinion that this money was for more than the upkeep of the members in relation to the restaurant. That must have come from somewhere. Mr. Kelly's opening statement was littered with comments, including, for example, that he now knew he was misinformed and that Mr. Culhane had questioned his motives. Deputy Cullinane raised this matter earlier. Mr. Kelly's statement features many comments setting out how he was frustrated in doing his job. This was not just an interpersonal problem. A range of different players are involved in this and it is very important that it is not seen as an interpersonal problem.

A number of different audit committees have operated since the function of Accounting Officer transferred from the Department to the Commissioner. There was one in place from 2006 to 2009 and another in place between 2009 and 2013. A further audit committee operated subsequent to that and there is probably a new one in place now. Was any member of the audit committee that operated between 2006 and 2009 a signatory to the bank account that is under investigation?