Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh:

It is certainly a failure of governance in the Arts Council. For example, this was not brought to the audit and risk committee of the Arts Council. All these facts are set out in the report I commissioned. It is also a failure in respect of oversight by the Department. Therefore, there is failure all around. It is important that our bodies be fit for purpose. As Accounting Officer, I ordered the inquiry so we would have the facts available to present. When the Minister saw the facts, he said the matter was one he wanted to go further on, having regard to the question of whether there were issues of culture and governance within the Arts Council. That is why he requested that an inquiry into the culture and governance of the Arts Council be carried out under the leadership of Professor Niamh Brennan. That is where we will glean further insight, if there is to be further reform carried out in that regard.