Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Meaning no disrespect, I do not accept what the Minister of State, Deputy English, has said. I accept one point.

Like many other Ministers in this Government run by the Civil Service, the Secretary Generals and officials within the Department, I reject what is in that. In fact, I will refer this to the Standing in Public Office Commission for investigation because it needs to be done. I may even send it to the Garda Síochána to get it to investigate the matter because I am not happy with the reply here tonight.

I want to put this on the record of the House tonight. The chairman and the board - every one of them - cannot be wrong. They did not just step aside because everything was perfect in the board. These were decent honourable people who were prepared to give something to this country and who wanted to do something for the inland fisheries but the Department had to be putting its oar into it. The chief executive had to be putting his oar into it. When they identified problems, these problems were never dealt with. Exactly like the reply again tonight, the problems were not dealt with or answered.

Of course, the Minister of State skipped over everything that I mentioned here in relation to the insurance, Aasleagh Lodge and inappropriate distribution of Dormant Accounts Funds. Of course, Deputy English did not answer any of these. I will have to get somebody else who will investigate it. I will have to get somebody who will look into this because this is not acceptable. This is not acceptable of State agencies and of county managers. It is not acceptable that there is no law or order for these people. The general public out there will go up the road tomorrow morning and see ten squad cars out with their posts up but when there is a crime to be committed in the middle of this city tonight, there will be nobody out there. When it is Revenue, the staff can be got.

I am really annoyed. I am angry and I am not letting this go. There was an honourable decent board there that was treated badly by the Department, and now by the Minister. When the board cried foul, the Minister investigated the board and did not investigate the CEO or what was going on.

I am disappointed with the reply tonight but I am not surprised. I was hoping the senior Minister would be here tonight. I accept he has Covid. I do not mind that but he probably would not have turned up anyway. Somebody else would be sent in to read out the public service script.

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