Written answers
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Department of Justice and Equality
Garda Oversight
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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109. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the annual financial returns submitted to her Department by the Garda Training College in the years prior to the transfer of accounting responsibility to the Garda Commissioner in 2006 were signed by an Accounting Officer for the years from its establishment up to 2006; if the accounts or accompanying financial statements made any reference to money held in unauthorised private banking accounts, brokerage accounts, and retail banking and credit unions accounts; if she is satisfied that the accounts were signed off on appropriately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24133/17]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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110. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied that issues pertaining to multiple land purchases, leasehold arrangements and tenant delinquency at the Garda Training College from its establishment up to 2006 when her Department held the chief Accounting Officer role were sufficiently reviewed by her Department; if sufficient oversight, management, governance arrangements and financial controls were in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24134/17]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has sought or received a copy of an incomplete 2006 internal audit report into alleged financial irregularities and maladministration at the Garda Training College; if the incomplete report examined years in which her Department head held the position of chief Accounting Officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24135/17]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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112. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has sought or received a copy of a 2008 report from a person (details supplied) into alleged financial irregularities and maladministration at the Garda Training College; if the report examined years in which her Department head held the position of chief Accounting Officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24136/17]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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113. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the reporting to the finance directorate or the Accounting Officer in her Department regarding the Garda Training College from its establishment up to 2006 covered private legal entities, investment and bank accounts, risk assessments or commercial enterprises operating at the college; if so, the nature and detail of such reporting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24137/17]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied that any annual accounts signed off on by Accounting Officers from the establishment of the Garda Training College up to 2006 are not compromised in any way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24139/17]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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115. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied that funds were misappropriated into private accounts in the Garda Training College from its establishment up to 2006; if she is satisfied that no offence under sections 5(2) and 6(1) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 occurred during this time period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24141/17]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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120. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has sought or received a copy of a 2008 report from a person (details supplied) into alleged financial irregularities and maladministration at the Garda Training College; if the report examined years in which the Secretary General in her Department held the position of chief Accounting Officer and when the Garda Commissioner was the chief Accounting Officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24262/17]
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the nature of a meeting that took place in 2008 between senior departmental officials and the then Garda Commissioner regarding the Garda Training College; if minutes, correspondence, an agenda or notes exist regarding the meeting; the persons who attended and the role of each in his or her respective organisation at the time; the detail of the discussions that took place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24268/17]
Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 to 115, inclusive, 120 and 121 together.
As the Deputy will be aware I have indicated publicly my concern at the findings of the Interim Internal Audit Report in relation to the financial procedures in the Garda College Templemore. As the Deputy will also be aware, the Committee is examining the Garda Commissioner in relation to the Interim Audit Report and intends to resume that examination in the coming weeks, and will report subsequently. The Garda Commissioner has been Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote since July 2006. Very particular responsibilities lie with Accounting Officers under the law and you will appreciate that I must be careful not to interfere in any way with the work of that Committee.
In relation to the period prior to the Commissioner assuming the role of Accounting Officer, my officials have provided available information to the Committee in relation to that period. The Deputy will appreciate that the period prior to the appointment of the Garda Commissioner as Accounting Officer relates to over 10 years ago, with consequent difficulties in establishing precise facts in relation to detailed aspects of this matter, particularly in the absence of relevant records. As previously stated, the Department became aware of certain issues in relation to Templemore having received representations from local TDs in relation to the desire of people to continue to have access to Templemore Golf Club. Subsequently, the Department received the interim Internal Audit report which highlighted the issues around the lack of proper financial controls in operation in Templemore which are now being examined by the Committee.
In the circumstances, I believe that the best course at this stage is to allow the examination by the PAC continue unhindered and can assure the Deputy that I will pay very careful attention to the proceedings at the Committee and, in particular, any report that it may make. If action is required on my part as a result, I will not hesitate to take it.
While, of course, there has to be accountability in relation to what went on at the College, the immediate priority has to be ensuring the problems identified in the audit are resolved. I have been assured that the Garda Authorities recognise the gravity of the issues raised and that they are taking comprehensive steps to progress the recommendations in the Report. External governance expertise and auditors have been engaged. A Steering Committee, chaired by the Garda Síochána Chief Administrative Officer and including a representative from my Department, is overseeing the implementation of the recommendations. In addition, upon receipt of the report I referred it to the Policing Authority to oversee the implementation of the recommendations and to report back to me each quarter. I expect the Authority to submit its first report to me in July.
Furthermore, I am advised that the Commissioner has requested an Assistant Commissioner to examine the Report with a view to establishing if there are any matters of discipline or criminality that need to be addressed and, if so, how such matters should be progressed.
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