Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I might not be able to answer all the questions the Deputy raised but I will certainly bring back the rest of them to the Department as well.

On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to, once again, set out the factual position on this issue.

At the outset, it is important to note that these matters were originally raised in Seanad Éireann on 5 May last. Subsequently, the assertions made were the subject of inaccurate media reports relating to Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI. These reports suggested significant irregularities have been identified in the organisation, including issues in relation to the Dormant Accounts Fund, procurement, vehicle insurance, use of IFI vessels and the leasing of a property. These assertions were fully addressed on a number of occasions in both Houses setting out the detailed factual position.

The fact is that these issues have been previously considered and addressed through, inter alia, the then chairman of the board's statutory statement of internal control, external audit reviews, correspondence between IFI and the Department, and the IFI board's own assessment of these matters which the Department has accepted.

In particular, it should also be noted that the suggestion made in Seanad Éireann on 5 May 2022, and carried in various media reports, that IFI grant aided, via funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund, an angling club that "did not exist" is entirely inaccurate. IFI has confirmed that the club in question was established before funds were applied for, has a club constitution, bank account and tax clearance certificate, and is affiliated to the Irish Federation of Sea Angling Clubs.

It has also been suggested in the various media reports that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, had appointed a senior counsel to examine these matters. The Minister wants to make clear this is inaccurate. As set out above, the Department fully accepts the former chair's and board's assurances that these issues-allegations have been addressed, are being addressed or should be entirely refuted.

The Department has appointed Mr. Conleth Bradley SC under section 18 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 - which section is entitled "Removal of Members from Office", members being members of the board of IFI - to carry out a review of the exercise by the board of its functions under the Act.

The focus of the section 18 review by Mr. Bradley SC is quite specific and relates to issues raised in correspondence between the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and board members of IFI during the period 1 Feb and 27 April. It includes letters of 4 March and 7 April from the Department to the then chairman of the board, Mr. Fintan Gorman, the letter of 22 April from the then chairman to the Department, and email notifications and subsequent letters from other board members.

As part of the review and as required under section 18(4) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010, IFI board members - including those who were members between the above dates but who have since resigned - management and personnel are required to co-operate with the review and provide assistance to Mr. Bradley SC. Engagement with all relevant persons is a matter for Mr. Bradley SC before he completes his report for the Minister.

The review does not in any way relate to the matters raised in both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann and in subsequent media reports during May 2022.

It is important to note that these matters are addressed in audit reviews and in the statement of internal control, signed off by the chairman of the board earlier this year, and which is required to form part of IFI's annual report for 2021.

The chairman’s report on behalf of the board indicates that issues identified have been addressed, IFI assets are being appropriately managed and other allegations can be fully refuted by IFI. I reiterate that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and his Department have fully accepted the assurances of the board in this regard.

As members of this House will be aware, annual reports and accounts, including annual statements of internal control, are prepared by all public bodies, including IFI. These documents are required to be submitted annually, as a matter of course, to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General before being laid before both Houses.

I emphasise that the suggestion that matters already addressed in the relevant IFI statement of internal control and audit reviews have been subsequently specifically or explicitly submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General outside of the well-established and normal process is simply untrue. IFI's normal annual submission, including the assurances on behalf of the board, to the Comptroller and Auditor General was made on 31 March last.

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