Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Contributing financially to criminality of any kind should never be condoned in any circumstance. Although it was, in fact, private contractors who paid funds to the individuals concerned, I appreciate that issues were raised in the proceedings in respect of Dublin City Council officials. It is a matter for the council to investigate fully the role of its staff in the matter. The council indicated in a press statement yesterday that it was arranging for an independent investigation to be carried out into all aspects of its involvement in the matter. My colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has stated he was not aware of the issue. He has publicly condemned any such practice and asked that the investigation be conducted quickly. Both he and his Department are following developments closely. The outcome of the investigation will inform further actions, if needed. The Minister has also spoken to the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, about the matter.

At this point the new homes concerned have been built and are largely tenanted, with the final tenants expected to move in in the coming days. I understand why Deputy Calleary would have questions, but we are trying to establish what happened and when, who sent emails to whom and what action was taken as a result. As the then Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, I can say there was certainly email correspondence with the Department of Justice and Equality through various email traffic routes. My office was cc'd in some of that email traffic, but the first I heard of the issue was yesterday. We are now trying to establish the communication lines for the email traffic, but one thing is clear: the concerns expressed and accusations made were matters for An Garda Síochána. The then Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, responded comprehensively to Deputy Ó Snodaigh who was raising the issue and confirmed that it was a matter for An Garda Síochána, that an investigation was ongoing and that if people had concerns, they should talk to the Garda about them. I have the email in front of me. Because of the accusations made and their seriousness, we need a completely independent investigation by Dublin City Council to establish exactly what happened and when and who knew what in order that we can be sure we understand what happened and that it will not happen again.

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