Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 25 May 2023

Public Accounts Committee

Appropriation Accounts 2021
Vote 24 – Justice

9:30 am

Photo of Imelda MunsterImelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wanted to touch on one scheme in particular, which I think was the Huawen scheme. The sole broker there was Kai Dai. It is in the public domain. Many questions need to be asked about it. This comes back to due diligence, oversight and that sort of thing. The Department approved that particular scheme in 2018. It was to consist of an investment of €8 million in the Nuremore Hotel and €2 million for refurbishment. It was to include the Fairways Hotel in Dundalk, which was to be purchased for €5 million, with €2 million for refurbishment. It included phase 1 of the build of Carnbeg holiday village. None of that actually happened. The Nuremore Hotel was approved in 2018 but it was not purchased until 2020. The staff had lost their jobs at that stage. Bills were not paid. Staff are currently not being paid. The witnesses can correct me if the figure I have is incorrect. I think the Huawen Foundation received €43.5 million. Can the witnesses confirm whether that was actually spent on the scheme?

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