Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The key point is that €1.1 billion of taxpayers' money has been given to CIE companies in the recent past. Will the Minister ask for any other audits that may exist in those companies to be brought to his attention and that of the Oireachtas? Will he ask for an exercise to be undertaken setting out the top ten procurement contracts that have been awarded for rolling stock and buses, etc., in each of those companies over the past two years? We need to look at the totality of procurement policy in all the CIE companies. The Minister did not know about this report because he did not ask. He is not holding State companies like CIE and the NRA to account. It is all very well for the Minister to cut ribbons and avail of photo opportunities with the chairman of CIE. The Minister should be aware that the wool is being pulled over his eyes and the eyes of this Government.

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