Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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Correct, and we will make sure that she sends it on to Dr. Richard Thorn. Is that agreed? We are not publishing that particular item of correspondence.

Items Nos. 504C (i) and (ii) and No. 513 (i) to (iii) are duplicate items of correspondence from an individual attaching correspondence and communications with different members of An Garda Síochána on bonus provision. We will note these items. It is not clear that this issue is within our remit. We have been included on a circulation list so this is not a matter specifically for this committee. It has not been directed to us so we will just note the correspondence that we received.

Item No. 505C (i) and (ii) is correspondence received from an individual relating to alleged illegal dumping of unauthorised material in County Meath. The committee is being kept in the loop on this matter and it has been raised with An Garda Síochána. We will note the item. The issue is ongoing and we are just being kept up to date on it.

Item No. 506C (i) and (ii) is correspondence dated 18 May from the Department of Justice and Equality. This is a follow-up to the criminal justice (fixed charge processing system) working group. This is a matter that was brought to our attention by the PARC Road Safety Group, via Deputy Tommy Broughan. I propose that we forward copies of this correspondence to the aforementioned group and to Deputy Broughan. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Item No. 507C is correspondence from an individual alleging treason and betrayal by public servants. We will note that item, but will take no further action.

Item No. 508C (i) and (ii) is correspondence dated 15 May from an accountancy firm attaching a report carried out on pension related deductions in respect of retained fire fighters with a dual mandate with a local authority. This is a policy matter which is outside the terms of reference of this committee. We will refer it to the relevant sectoral committee. Some members may have encountered this issue at a local level. This is definitely a matter for the Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. I propose that we write to the correspondent to advise that we are forwarding the correspondence to that committee.

Item No. 509C is correspondence from an individual containing allegations in respect of Naas General Hospital. The secretariat has received a large amount of information as outlined in the email. The clerk will examine this and revert to the committee in the coming weeks. We may need to receive legal advice on whether this is a protected disclosure under the terms of the Act and I will ask the clerk to the liaise with the parliamentary legal adviser on that point. When we get a clearer view on the documentation, we will come back to it at that stage. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The next item of correspondence, No. 510C, is from an individual regarding teachers' pay and accountability. This was sent to a number of committees and the clerk has been informed that the Joint Committee on Education and Skills will be examining the matter further so we will just note it.

The next item of correspondence, No. 511C, dated 19 May 2017, is from Deputy David Cullinane and includes an email from the chairman of Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation regarding comments made by the Chairman of Bord na gCon, Mr. Meaney, at the Committee of Public Accounts meeting last week. As Mr. Meaney fully withdrew the comments he made later in the meeting, we will just note that matter. The remark was fully withdrawn on the day.

The next item, No. 512C (i) to (ii) is correspondence dated 19 May 2017 from Mr. Tony O’Brien, Director General, HSE, in reply to the issue of Console staff. The letter reiterates the stance of the HSE, as previously advised to this committee. I suggest that we publish this correspondence. While we are not happy with the way the staff of Console were treated, we must be pragmatic about this. A liquidator is involved and nobody can prejudge the outcome of the liquidation process. The HSE has said that the staff are not its legal responsibility while the Department of Health is saying the same. There is a view among members of this committee that we should propose that the Government, through the Minister, would make an ex gratiapayment but that probably cannot be done during the course of the liquidation process and we do not know when that will end. The view of the committee is that if the former staff of Console are left as unpaid, unsecured creditors at the end of the day then the Government should consider making an ex gratiapayment in respect of their work but that cannot be done just yet.