Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On the work programme, I wish to deal with one item of correspondence that arrived this morning, 13 July, from An Garda Síochána. It was not listed on the correspondence because it was received only this morning. The letter is from Mr. Joseph Nugent. I will read it out because it has not been published. It states:

I know from coverage in the media in recent days and from information from the committee secretariat that the Public Accounts Committee may intend over the coming days to publish its report in relation to the examination of matters arising from the interim report of An Garda Síochána internal audit unit on financial procedures at the Garda college, Templemore.

It would be appreciated if you confirm whether or not this is the case. I note to date that no draft report has been received by the Commissioner from the committee in this regard. I would be grateful for your confirmation that the committee intends to furnish the draft of its report in advance of publication in order that the Commissioner and other staff members in An Garda Síochána who may have an interest in the report be afforded the opportunity to address the draft report's findings.

The recent media coverage also refers to additional material received by the committee, extracts of which have been published. The Commissioner would be grateful if the committee would provide a copy of all such material received by it in order that it may be appropriately considered by the Commissioner and other Garda colleagues in conjunction with the committee's draft report.

I look forward to an early response.

I will respond in public. We will not discuss it in any detail. We will not be supplying a copy of the draft interim report. We issued a report just two days ago on third level education. We did not supply it to the Department of Education and Skills, the HEA or any of the colleges concerned. The reports are not about personal findings and the parliamentary legal adviser will make sure it is within the proper procedure from the Houses of the Oireachtas. It would not be normal to issue it for discussion. We will give them a draft report just immediately before the launch.

Second, I will ask the secretariat if we have received additional material that is being referred to in the letter, that did not come through the Commissioner's office. It is surprising the Commissioner has not got it if it has come from senior officers, but in the event she has not, I think we will forward it to the Commissioner in any event.