Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

We had a lengthy discussion on the matter at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and we intend to conduct a deeper investigation. Could the Minister confirm, first, whether the total figure for losses discovered in the Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report amounted to €2.4 million, or whether it could have been a much higher figure, as calculated by Senator Shane Ross, of perhaps €8.5 million? Were there other losses of up to €8.5 million on foot of malfeasance in the company?

Second, in regard to our previous discussion on Question Time, the Minister indicated he would request the reports on the ten largest procurements of Irish Rail during Transport 21 and its predecessor. Will he make the information on those procurements available to the Dáil and the transport committee?

The net result of the criminal misbehaviour in terms of the selling off of equipment belonging to CIE and Irish Rail was that three people left the company. The manager, Mr. Fearn, referred to contacts with the Garda Síochána in that regard . Has the Minister made any further investigations?

I noted recently that a senior engineer of Irish Rail received an award of €190,000 from the Equality Tribunal, the largest payment in the history of the tribunal. Another senior engineer is also pursuing a case at the Employment Appeals Tribunal, and there are allegations that another senior manager is currently suspended. Is the Minister aware of whether that is the case, if that suspension has taken place and if difficulties exist with senior management? I invite the Minister to comment on that.

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