Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know that, go raibh maith ag an gCathaoirleach. There is clearly one rule for senior people and a more severe rule for people lower down the food chain. That is just unfair and I have raised this point on countless occasions. Irrespective of what role, what State agency, what Department or what job one does, one should have the same rules. If one is under investigation, one should be suspended and if that is the rule for the junior person, that should be the rule for the senior person. That is not the case with Inland Fisheries Ireland and one assumes and asks if that would be the same in any other State agency or Government Department. It is clearly not right or fair and it creates a predetermined judgment on a person by suspending them while an investigation is going on, and then one the same thing does not happen when other investigations take place into other people.

On other days, I will raise some of the matters pertaining to the boat which was purchased by the CEO in Galway whom I thank for supporting the Galway economy. The issues pertaining to transport of that boat are under investigation and issues on the uninsured vehicles are still under investigation. I know that the head of human resources, HR, is moving on and I wish her well in her new role. I do not know what the reasons behind that are but certainly one could suggest, and I would indeed suggest, that nobody is appointed within Inland Fisheries Ireland without theimprimaturof the CEO. Why have a head of HR if the CEO is going to do the hiring and, in some cases, the firing also?

These are all very serious issues which are going on and I do not raise them lightly. I know that the Cathaoirleach and the Clerk will be unhappy with my raising of these issues, but, at the same time, there is a public interest in these matters and absolutely nobody is taking it seriously, least of all, the Minister, Deputy Ryan.