John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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At the last meeting I asked about the auditors and we were told about EY. We acted on the accounts from CRC where it clearly states that this is a fee. One can spread the blame from EY to the directors who signed the accounts and then to Mr. Kiely who raised it as he did. Enormous damage has been done to the charities and to the sector. Much as we were shocked by the revelations about the accounts through Deputy Ross, it is even worse this morning now that we know about how this accounts saga was put before the general public through this committee.

I agree with Deputy Fleming that they owe an apology to the committee, the sector, the CRC and the Mater Hospital. Given the fact that it is Christmas time maybe they should go beyond an apology because substantial damage has been done to those out there trying to collect for the charities. They should consider the comments being made here at the Committee of Public Accounts and the damage that has been done, and they should respond publicly within the next few days so that we can correct the record and get the matter sorted.

Mr. Kiely said he had raised this matter with the Mater Hospital on numerous occasions and that he was tired asking about it. He said he had been told to get lost, that he had to continue to pay. Is there any paper trail in the Mater Hospital that would indicate that before Ms Day took up her position, Mr. Kiely had raised this issue on numerous times as he declared he did? Did he get a written response or were last week's comments made from the top of his head?