2 Feb 2012, 12:21
The Committee of Public Accounts requested today that the Comptroller and Auditor General examine the operation of an unofficial SIPTU account which operated between 1998 and 2010.
Over €5 million in public funds were placed in this “unofficial account”.
Chairman of the Committee, John McGuinness TD, outlined that the decision today arises from a stand-off between SIPTU and the HSE.
Deputy McGuinness said: “In order to bring a conclusion to this issue, the Committee has asked the Comptroller and Auditor General to make a comprehensive report to the Committee on the operation of this account.
“We can only finalise consideration of this issue when all the facts are before us. In that regard, the Comptroller and Auditor General must be given full access to all information, including the Grant Thornton Report which holds key information in the way this Account operated and the way in which funds were spent in an unorthodox fashion on foreign travel and lavish entertainment.
“I have asked the Comptroller and Auditor General to come back to the Committee if he is frustrated at any stage in his attempts to get access to full information”.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee of Public Accounts
Membership
John McGuinness (Chairman)
Kieran O’Donnell (Vice Chairman)
Paul J Connaughton,
John Deasy,
Paschal Donohoe,
Anne Ferris,
Simon Harris,
Michael McCarthy,
Mary Lou McDonald,
Sean Fleming,
Eoghan Murphy,
Derek Nolan,
Shane Ross