Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)

I listened to much of what was said last night. I do not want to pre-empt the outcome of Niamh Brennan’s report because, ultimately, Niamh Brennan will look at this in a far greater level of detail than I will be able to in an hour and a half before the committee. All of this has come to light since I became Minister. I have dealt with this in the best interests of the taxpayer since I became Minister. My motivation is to make sure that the governance, oversight and responsibilities of the Arts Council and the Department are fit for purpose in the spending of moneys that are voted by Dáil Éireann to them. With regard to the Department, there is an IPA examination already up and running. I also commissioned that. Any recommendations the IPA seeks to bring to my attention when it is concluded, I will do. The basic and fundamental point here is that we had a CEO-director who was out of contract. I ask this question kind of rhetorically. Based on what I knew, the amount of money expended and the fact that this project was not going to be delivered, what was I to do?

Was I to renew for five years, in which case I am sure Deputy Byrne would have something entirely different to say to me today, or was I to take a proportionate and reasonable position, which was to renew for a period of time that would bring the person up to the end of Niamh Brennan's report? At that time there would have been nothing stopping the outgoing director applying for a position if that position were advertised.