Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

We expect to see a regulator being very independent. In fact, there are accounts that most of us on the Committee of Public Accounts would pay particular attention to. We would not expect the Revenue Commissioners, for example, not to have a clear audit opinion. Regulatory bodies would very much fall into the same category, because they are the ones that are setting the standards for the people that they are regulating. That is why this one is particularly important. That is especially the case in an industry that has a very big impact on the economy in terms of the amount of money that is taken in. As a Deputy from Kildare, I am acutely aware of what a big industry it is, so regulating it is of critical importance in order to give the public some comfort. That is why this is a glaring issue.

Are there are concerns in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine about the fact that people continue to be nominated by the Turf Club? We see the crossover here with the Turf Club making a contribution towards an exit package for someone it did not employ.