Departmental Investigations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 November 2015

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

Ceisteanna (7)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Ceist:

7. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding Keelderry commonage lands, further to the Seanad motion of 14 February 2012 by a Senator (details supplied), if he will confirm that the formal investigation has concluded; if the findings of any such formal investigation have been provided to all the affected parties; and if he will issue a reply to the issues raised by the Senator and confirm that he will now proceed to conduct his own investigation into this matter to bring about a satisfactory conclusion. [41241/15]

Freagraí ó Béal (5 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

Regarding the Keelderry commonage lands, further to the Seanad motion of 14 February 2012 by a Senator, whose details were supplied, will the Minister confirm that the formal investigation has concluded? Have the findings of any such formal investigation been provided to all the affected parties? Will the Minister issue a reply to the issues raised by the Senator? Will the Minister proceed to conduct his own investigation into this matter and bring about a satisfactory conclusion?

Deputy Simon Coveney

I have a problem here that I signalled earlier. My advice is that these inspections are the subject of legal proceedings and I cannot comment any further on the matter. I am not happy that this has gone down the legal route. We have repeatedly tried to find solutions in this case, but once an issue like this is the subject of legal proceedings, I am precluded from saying anything further. I do not like giving the Deputy such an answer, but that is the advice I have.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

Will the Minister confirm that the formal investigation has been concluded? Will the findings be sent to anybody? I understand that if something has gone the legal route, the Minister cannot go into legal technicalities. Has the formal investigation been completed? Has the outcome been provided to anybody?

Deputy Simon Coveney

I will check that for the Deputy. My understanding is that our investigation and the appeal of that have concluded. I may need to verify that. Once something goes down the legal route, anything I say here may impact on that, so I need to be careful what I say.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

As Deputy Pringle is not present, Question No. 8 cannot be taken.

Question No. 8 replied to with Written Answers.