Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 16 October 2014

Public Accounts Committee

Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres

12:10 pm

Mr. Tom Moran:

It is in Killybegs. Ours is a big Department that deals across the board with a considerable number of individuals and businesses. In this regard, I am rather mindful of the point you make, that is, at the other side of every action by a large entity of the State there is a person or a business. We are conscious of that. At the same time, we have to balance that against legal propriety and proper handling of a case. I have no absolutely difficulty in updating you or the committee on this case in so far as I can do so legally. In this case, a debt is owed to the State. Our interest is to ensure that there is proper handling of an outstanding problem, a debt, in the best interests of the taxpayer. Having regard to the possible legal constraints, of course, I will let you know. We will write to you and give you an up-to-date position inasmuch as we possibly can. We have no reason not to.