John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

How can the Minister of State explain that senior civil servants expressly stated the view, in announcing this scheme, that it would open the floodgates? How is it possible that two persons, both constituents of the then Minister, Deputy Fahey, received 75% of the funding allocated, which was a substantial amount of money?

Does the Minister of State agree with the Ombudsman that the scheme was seriously flawed? The Ombudsman wrote that, accordingly, her office reverted to the Department requesting it outline how it proposes to deal with the matter.

There were 120 files and eight files which the then Minister, according to a handwritten note from him, wanted ring-fenced. Of the six files where there was payment, four were from within his own constituency.

This is a serious matter. It is a complete cover-up. Never in the history of the State has such a report issued from the Ombudsman clearly indicating the compliance of the Department and of senior servants in a cover-up on this scale.

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