Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will ensure that NAMA is made aware of that point in our reply. We are not legal experts. We cannot be expected to know the subsections of section 202. I thank Mr. McCarthy for highlighting it. How could we be expected to know the full details of that? We will revert to NAMA on that basis. We will note and publish the correspondence but will follow up on it.

Next is No. 1714 B from Dr. Des Fitzgerald, president of the University of Limerick, UL, providing an update on steps taken by him to ensure the conclusions of the Thorn report are fully and swiftly implemented. Dr. Fitzgerald states that there is a sharp focus on ensuring that matters are dealt with fully and finally to restore the reputation of the university.

I will make a remark once we put the letter on screen. There are multiple pages to it and I do not have the relevant part to hand. The issue I wish to refer to is on page 3, step No. 8. It reads: "At a hearing of the PAC, in the press and in communications to UL staff, I apologised on behalf of the university to the regulatory bodies, to current and former employees and to the people of the Mid West for what was revealed in the Thorn Reports." It is all well and good apologising to staff and former staff, but what is the current position? Saying "I am sorry" is fine, but has anything been done in practice? I want to know the current status of the staff to which Dr. Fitzgerald referred. They may have been whistleblowers. Without identifying them by name, we need a note on their current employment status and how that apology was given practical effect. If it has not been given proper legal effect, it is only words.