Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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The 2015 audit report for the Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board is clear.

The 2015 audit report of the Road Safety Authority is also clear. However, severance payments of €145,000 were made during 2015 and associated legal costs amounted to €66,400. The authority did not obtain sanction for these costs from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as required. Audit testing also identified non-competitive procurement of goods and services in 2015 to the value of €700,000. The statement of internal financial controls sets out the steps being taken by the authority to address the matter. We will note this and if Deputies wish to take up the matter directly, they are free to do so. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland received a clear audit report for 2015.

The next matter is the work programme, which has been circulated. In addition to our meeting this afternoon, we have a meeting with Lazard next Tuesday, followed by another meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday with Mr. Frank Daly and Mr. Brendan McDonagh from the National Asset Management Agency. As the meeting on Thursday will take several hours, we will have one or two breaks. In fairness to NAMA, representatives of the agency appeared before the committee at the beginning of this process. Given that a great deal of information has come to light in the meantime, it is only right and proper that NAMA be given an opportunity to appear before the committee again as we reach the conclusion of our public hearings. If Deputies have questions or wish to elicit information that could be obtained by writing, they should circulate them to the clerk. We will continue to send NAMA a letter every week seeking further information.