Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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626. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action he has taken with regard to recent media reports of alleged extravagant expenditure of public funds on credit cards by executives at Dublin Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29478/19]

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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631. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason he is not taking a similar hands-on approach further to the widespread reporting of the alleged gross misuse of taxpayers' money at Dublin Port as previously in a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29483/19]

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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632. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has absolute confidence in the board and executive of Dublin Port further to media reports of alleged gross misuse of taxpayers' money at the port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29484/19]

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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634. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether there is a need for a public inquiry into the use of credit cards by Dublin Port executives. [29486/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 626, 631, 632 and 634 together.

I want to emphasise that Dublin Port is an independent commercial State company and receives no Exchequer funding. 

On foot of the recent media reports I immediately sought a meeting with the port.  I can confirm that I have met with representatives from Dublin Port Company including the Chair and the CEO, to discuss the issues in detail.

The port outlined a number of areas of spending where credit cards are used and detailed how this spending is approved in advance at the correct management or board level, in accordance with internal company procedures. The port has stated there is no allegation of wrongdoing made in any report and that the leak of data to the media has been notified to the Data Protection Commissioner.

In addition, the port has engaged external consultants to carry out an independent review of all credit card expenditure and the company’s policies and procedures around credit card use. This is to determine whether all expenditure was appropriate and properly authorised. The report is expected to be completed in approximately eight weeks.