David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Ó Foghlú and his team and Dr. Love and his team. Because it is his last appearance before the Committee of Public Accounts, I thank Dr. Love for his service with the HEA and engagement with the committee. He has been a very helpful witness on the number of occasions he has appeared before us. He has also been a staunch defender of the higher education sector. I commend him for the work he has done in that regard. I have some questions about his statement of resignation, to which I will come shortly.

I have some questions about the independent review of the spin-out companies at Waterford Institute of Technology. I hope Dr. Love shares or at least understands the frustration other members and I feel about this issue, given that we were due to receive a report last September or October. I met a lot of people who had engaged with Mr. Michael McLoone as part of the process. I also met him at his request and know that a lot of people came forward. I believe in due process and know that we cannot draw conclusions and must wait until the report is published. The committee has received a letter from the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, which was debated at our last hearing and in which it expressed concerns on behalf of its members who, in good faith, had engaged in the process. They feel aggrieved that one year on there is still no report, be it good, bad or indifferent.

Dr. Love briefed the committee in private session on some of the challenges. I do not want to put him in a position where it might be more difficult to publish the report, but does he understand the frustration of members and WIT staff? Perhaps he might outline for the committee - if he has the numbers - how many staff at WIT engaged with Mr. McLoone as part of the process. Was it dozens? When are we likely to see the report? One way or another, we need a resolution of the issue today. If Dr. Love is not in a position to answer the question, the Department needs to answer it. I am very anxious to ensure absolute clarity for everybody involved, including the management and staff at WIT. Everybody would benefit from having the report published as soon as possible. If Dr. Love is not in a position to answer the question, I will put it to the departmental officials.