Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is no incentive for the Garda to spend its time collecting money that goes into the central Exchequer. That is something we will come back to. I am not suggesting debt collectors, because that was raised. The point is that, in some regions people, even when they are handed down fines in court, ignore them and the fines are never paid, collected or followed up. That is another day’s work. We note and publish that.

No. 2374, from Mr. Robert Watt, provides copies of documentation released under freedom of information, FOI, pertaining to the national children's hospital. Some members will have seen that previously. It has been out under FOI for a period, if members want it followed up. We note and publish that, although it is already published under FOI.

No. 2375, from Mr. Eoin McLoughlin, Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, is regarding agri-biomethane. We can note and publish that. Some will want to watch that.

The next item, No. 2381, from Ms Louise O'Meara, head of policy and secretariat, Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, dated 11 September, provides an information note requested by the committee on the inquiry regarding EU funds for training purposes in the Garda College, Templemore. We will ask for an update on that. The letter is clear. We note and publish the letter stating that the commission refers to EU funds for training purposes in the Garda College. It states there are legacy issues. There are two different sources. One relates to the issue and one was raised at the Committee of Public Accounts. They state the account was maintained in Templemore with the consent of the Department of Justice and Equality but it has nothing to do with the Garda Training College - that is merely where somebody was administering it – and the bank account was sanctioned by the Department of Justice and Equality. The last paragraph states that during its investigation, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission obtained a significant amount of documentation from the Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice and Equality, the financial institution and the European Union itself, and that as this is a criminal investigation, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is limited in what information it can release at this time but, as stated above, the investigation is now at an advanced stage. We will just have to wait, if there are criminal proceedings, for them to take their course. GSOC confirms that criminal proceedings are being investigated in this case. We note and publish that.

The next item of correspondence is from, Mr. Pat Smyth, interim CEO of Tusla, dated 12 September, providing clarification requested by the committee in relation to the remuneration of staff employed directly by Tusla and agency staff. There was a little confusion and they clarify it there.