Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No. 699C, dated 13 July is correspondence from an individual who was advised by Deputy Willie O'Dea to inform the committee about a bullying complaint against University College Cork. We note that. No. 700 is correspondence dated 13 July from Professor Des Fitzgerald, president of the University of Limerick in reply to the correspondence making the bullying complaint and stating he will investigate the matter. We note that.

No. 702 is correspondence dated 13 July from Mr. Jerry Grant, managing director of Irish Water regarding procurement issues raised by the committee. The letter states that an internal review is being carried out. No. 717, which was received separately, is a follow-up letter to the one dated 24 July, also from Irish Water. In it the managing director states that Irish Water adhered to all EU rules on procurement. He went on to state that in this case a second preferred bidder for water cleaning chemicals has been appointed to address the competition issues. Is it agreed to note and publish that? Agreed.

No. 703 is correspondence from an individual dated 14 July requesting the committee to investigate a charity involved in the welfare of horses in County Wicklow.

I propose that we write to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to seek a detailed response. As the charity in question is substantially funded by taxpayers' money, we want to see the governance arrangements that have been put in place by the Department in respect of the allocation of public funds to it. When we get a reply from the Department, we will deal with the matter.

No. 704 is anonymous correspondence dated 16 July requesting the committee to make inquiries with the Garda Commissioner regarding the prosecution of child pornography cases. As this matter may be more appropriate for consideration by the justice committee, I propose that we forward it to that committee. Having looked at the matter, I cannot see how it falls under our remit. We will send it straight to the justice committee.

No. 709 is correspondence from a company, Flow East, regarding a meeting of the finance committee with NAMA. The secretary has sent a copy of the transcript of the meeting to the company, as requested. That has been done and we will note that.

Correspondence, dated 14 July, has been received from Professor Des Fitzgerald, who is the president of the University of Limerick, inviting members of this committee to visit the university. I think it would be very interesting to follow up this offer, but I cannot see how our work programme will allow it for now. I propose that we invite to Professor Fitzgerald to thank him for extending this offer at this time.