Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies. I welcome the opportunity to once again set out the factual position on these matters. I can advise that a number of protected disclosures, mostly anonymous, have been made on IFI to the Department and to IFI itself. These disclosures are being examined in line with the protected disclosure policy of the Department and the equivalent policy of IFI, as appropriate. It is important to note that the veracity of the disclosures has not been established at this stage and this will remain the position pending the outcome of the examinations under both protected disclosure policies.

I am advised by IFI that allegations of serious wrongdoing made in the original anonymous disclosure earlier this year against a senior member of IFI staff have been the subject of a separate independent internal investigation in IFI, which is now concluded. While this investigation was in process, the relevant staff member was suspended. Following the conclusion of the investigation, that staff member has been dismissed. I should also advise that matters examined as part of this investigation are under investigation by An Garda Síochána and in that context, it would not be appropriate to comment further on this particular matter.

In addition, evidence of attempts to place pressure on, and alleged intimidation of, IFI personnel during the course of and subsequent to the investigation referred to above have also been referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation. Some of the matters alleged in subsequent disclosures were raised in Seanad Éireann on 5 May last and the assertions made were the subject of inaccurate media reports relating to IFI. These reports suggested that significant irregularities have been identified in the organisation.

It should be noted that the original disclosure resulting in the dismissal referred to above, and now the subject of a Garda investigation, was not raised on that occasion. The assertions raised on 5 May were fully addressed on a number of occasions in both Houses, setting out the detailed factual position on same. The fact is that these particular issues have been previously considered and addressed through: inter alia, the then chair's statutory statement of internal control; external audit reviews; correspondence between IFI and my Department; and IFI board's own assessment of these matters, which my Department has accepted. The chair's statement 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 want to reiterate that I and my Department have fully accepted the assurances of the board in this regard.

Separately, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, appointed Mr. Conleth Bradley, senior counsel, under section 18 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010, to carry out a review of the exercise by the board of its functions under the Act. The report of the review carried out by Mr. Bradley was sent to the board and discussed at a meeting between the board and officials of the Department on 26 October, where it was agreed that the review was warranted. All the recommendations therein were accepted by the board and it was agreed that the board would implement all of these recommendations. The primary focus of the Minister, the board and departmental officials is to implement the recommendations and work in close collaboration with the executive and board of IFI for the benefit of the entire inland fisheries resource.

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