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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Mar 1980

Vol. 318 No. 8

Erin Foods Irregularities: Statement by Minister.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I should like to make the following statement:

The position in regard to irregularities on the Erin Foods side of Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teoranta is being investigated by the company and the Garda. The company have engaged a firm of accountants to carry out a special audit, and investigations are also being made abroad. While certain stocks of Erin products have been located abroad, it will not be possible to arrive at any firm conclusions in regard to the nature and extent of the irregularities until the various inquiries have been completed. I can assure the House that a most thorough examination is being made but, in view of the complexity of the whole matter, as well as the geographical spread of the company's trading, this will necessarily take some time. In the meantime, the disclosure of the detailed information available could only hamper the investigations by the company and the garda and prejudice their outcome.

On behalf of my party I should like to welcome the fact that the Minister has made a statement on this matter. It is very desirable that a statement from an authoritative source should be made at an early stage in a matter of this sort. It is also important and in the interests of fairness and justice, particularly in view of the possibility of criminal proceedings that great care should be taken by all concerned about giving names publicly of individuals who may or may not be involved. In the interests of justice, I appeal to all concerned to exercise that care. Having said that, on the basis of the information it is indicated that this is a serious matter and we welcome the fact that the board and other responsible authorities are treating it as such and carrying out their investigations with due speed.

I thank the Minister for making the statement which does not go into detail—understandably, in the circumstances surrounding the case. It would be most undesirable if we were to have a trial in the House on this matter. Unfortunately, this type of irregularity happens both in the private sector and occasionally in the public sector, more frequently in the private sector. When we consider that we have approximately 90 State and semi-State bodies the rarity of an occurence such as this speaks well for the general management and operation of the State sector. I am concerned, particularly in view of noises emanating from some prominent business interests, that this affair should not be used as a vehicle to launch a further attack on the State and semi-State sector which has served the country so well. If one examines the 90 State and seme-State bodies objectively one sees how well-run most of them are and how beneficial they have been to our economy.

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