Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, but the letter has been written by the CEO. It will be dealt with at the meeting subsequently. Again, it was urging caution, which I find strange.

There are a number of issues here and there is talk of Garda investigations. I have no idea who has been investigated by the Garda in relation to Inland Fisheries Ireland, but I am of the view there should be an investigation by the Minister. The Minister needs to investigate issues that have come to pass surrounding Inland Fisheries Ireland. They have hounded one family. I could not go into the issues that the family is facing, but we all know the story of Maurice McCabe and I believe this is something similar at this stage. Any existing IFI employee who would be seen talking to or calling this former employee is being taken aside. Even former employees are being blacklisted in relation to contacts with this individual within Inland Fisheries Ireland. Yet, we have the CEO contacting the Cathaoirleach, effectively threatening how he does his business in and how he organises the Seanad.

The Minister investigated the board. Why did he investigate the board? He did so because his advisers told him it was the right thing to do. Why did they tell him that? They wanted the Minister to dismiss the board because the board was not complying with the CEO’s wishes. There was a 7:3 split. He wanted the board gone; not the Minister, but the advisers and the CEO wanted the board gone to put in people who were more manageable. That was what was going on in relation to Inland Fisheries Ireland.

I spoke with senior people in this Government on carrying out investigations. They carried out the investigation in relation to the board. Now it is time for them to carry out investigations into matters within Inland Fisheries Ireland at its more senior level over the past number of years. If that happens, there is then no need for me to put things onto the record. However, if they do not, I am then obliged to. The Secretary General of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has the information. Other senior politicians have the information. Politicians and colleagues of mine within Galway West, Galway East and Mayo have the information and they are all of the view that there are issues here and questions to be answered within Inland Fisheries Ireland.