Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Doyle will, therefore, appreciate that in the context of where only 3% of complaints made are investigated, which is how seriously SIPOC takes its role, that it would be a very serious allegation before SIPOC would consider it. In that, the finding was an adverse one against a person as a public official. Can I ask Mr. Doyle to look at this in this context, bearing in mind that the public is watching, and that we have a situation in the Department of Health where an official released information to this committee and into the public domain which was in the public interest, which safeguarded our interests in public spending and in different movements within the Department of Health, but the official did this in the public interest. This person was suspended for acting in the public interest. This person is not at local level but is at Department level. There was no complaint to SIPOC that I am aware of but I may stand corrected on that point. This person has been suspended from his job.

On the other hand, we have a very prominent position of a chief executive over accounting, who has been investigated while in his position, resulting in a very damning finding and has faced no repercussion. The Minister of the Department has appointed him to a board that oversees a budget of €5 billion. What does Mr. Doyle think that says to the public? What kind of message are we trying to give out here? Do your worst and we will give you our best position, do your best and we will sack you? Does that resonate with Mr. Doyle?