Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday in the Seanad, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, endorsed the CEO. He regaled us with great stories of his skills as CEO of Wexford County Council. The Minister of State, Deputy Burke, might want to read this week's edition of the Wexford People. He might also need to stop listening to the civil servants who are feeding him yet another "Yes, Minister" moment. The EPA has come out with what is an abject failure of managerial oversight and, yet, we have a Minister of State endorsing the CEO who presided over it.

The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, will appreciate that all too often we experience the division of responsibility of the various organs of the State to the extent that nobody is accountable. We pay senior management in our public service comfortable six-figure sums to ensure that the very safety of the public is the cornerstone of our democracy. As a result of the malpractice of senior management of Wexford County Council, the State Claims Agency will be faced with claims in the tens of thousands, if not millions. Yet, those responsible will still be paid on Friday-----

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