James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)

I thank all the witnesses. When they were being questioned about their fundraising, my overwhelming feeling listening to the responses was sadness over the Peter McVerry Trust going from a position in which it was generating €15million, with people doing all sorts of amazing things to support a person - let us be honest, most of the general public trust his mission and what he continues to try to achieve - to one of anger whereby the trust of donors who gave up to €15million has been reduced to the point where the figure projected for next year is only €500,000. The witnesses are all here carrying the can, for which I give them a lot of credit, and trying to put some shape on the delivery of housing first services, which we know are exceptionally effective in dealing with long-term homelessness. However, in many respects we are here to look back at what has taken place. In this regard, I want to return to the €350,000 transaction. I want to put to the witnesses precisely what Mr. Doherty said in his testimony. In respect of the €350,000 and the former CEO Mr. Pat Doyle, he said, “As the conversation progressed, my recollection is that he [the former CEO] advised that, in actual fact, the money was being made available”-----