Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 20 November 2025

Public Accounts Committee

Exceptional Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust: Discussion

2:00 am

Mr. Tony O'Brien:

As I mentioned earlier, there could be some very significant accountability arising from the matters that are covered by the section 19 disclosure. That is a matter that others will determine. It is beyond the remit of the present board to do those things. I understand why the Deputy is both sad and angry about these things. I have not been involved with the trust prior to this year but had I been so, and I believe there are probably members present today who fundraised for the trust in the past, it would be a matter of extreme sadness. That having been said, I believe we are capable of continuing the work we have done to put the trust onto a sound footing. The publication of these accounts has been a clearing of the decks, as it were, which enables us to go forward in a very forward-looking way. I hope that in time we will be able to regain the trust of the public and re-enter the space where people are willing to give charitably to the Peter McVerry Trust because the core mission has never changed. Peter's own zeal for his work has never changed. The services reflect that mission. They have continued throughout this period, thankfully, and continue today.

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