Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The individual gave an explanation at the public accounts committee. It is on record. I am querying that on behalf of the former chairperson. There is no record of this project going before the board for approval. The CEO states it came before the board in May as part of the overall capital expenditure package but there are no individualised projects listed and there was no approval for expenditure of €219,000 on this project in Aasleagh. Will the Minister seek verification of whether this project was approved by the board? It is one of a number of projects and issues within Inland Fisheries Ireland, which calls into question the governance and management of that organisation.

I am raising the issue and I ask that the Minister engage with the chief executive officer of Inland Fisheries Ireland on the expenditure of that money on Aasleagh, and also engage with the former chairman of the board, up to April 2022, and the acting chairperson who resigned in January 2023, to seek approval or to get verification of the minutes of meetings which refer to capital projects in that year. Two different opinions have been given and it is quite clear to me, based on what I have seen, that there was no board approval for that individual project worth €219,000. That is against proper governance and procedure, and it is a waste of taxpayers' money and an abuse of the positions held, without reference to the board members, whose duty it is to sign off on capital expenditure. I do not expect the Minister to comment on the case now but I ask that he engage with the CEO and the former chairpersons of Inland Fisheries Ireland regarding this project.