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THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS Committee is expected to move forward Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan’s next appearance at the committee, vice-chairman Alan Kelly has said.
O’Sullivan was originally planned to appear before the committee on 13 July, but Kelly said he wants that date brought forward in light of a new dossier on the alleged misappropriation of funds at the Templemore Garda College given to the committee yesterday.
A 122 page document details how the Head of Human Resources for An Garda Síochána, John Barrett, raised concerns about the alleged misappropriation of millions of euro at the college.
O’Sullivan had initially told the PAC that she had found out about the cash controversy at Templemore during “a brief chat” with Barrett over a cup of tea, something he has denied.
Barrett told the PAC that he had taken extensive minutes of the meeting, which he said lasted over two hours.
Kelly told TheJournal.ie that in light of the widespread contradictions he plans to bring forward the date at which the commissioner was due to appear before the PAC.
“I think it is necessary now that Noírín O’Sullivan and other witnesses come into the PAC sooner than the 13 July – in the next couple of weeks – and I will be discussing that with my colleagues tomorrow,” said Kelly.
“The level of contradictions throughout the meeting is something I have never witnessed before,” said the Tipperary TD.
“This issue can’t keep going on. We need to deal with the controversies around this, we need to deal with the issues around it – there are so many questions.”
The financial irregularities at the college include a fund that was used for gifts and entertainment, rent collected for a site that should have been paid to the Office of Public Works and the transfer of money to the Garda Boat Club.
O’Sullivan said the matter dates back 30 years and that she only became aware of them in 2015.
During Leaders’ Questions, the Taoiseach said he continues to have confidence in the Garda Commissioner.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin the financial irregularities at Templemore requires urgent action by the Government.
“You cannot wash this thing away, week after week – do you not get it,” Martin asked the Taoiseach this afternoon.
“This is stretching the credibility of the force to its very limit, and with it the Government’s as well,” he added.
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Shuffle himself out hopefully
@Eugene Tyson: The fact is Varadkar and his party are getting hammered on social media where the spin doctors can’t control the content, He knows he won’t get back in because his policies are a disaster.
@Dot Com: Exactly, he’d want to replace them all and appoint a new Tanaiste while he’s at it, people who actually concentrate on their jobs and take their duties seriously and conscientiously Lio won’t last himself anyway, the way things are going..
@Dot Com: do you need to broaden your echo chamber perhaps? Im no fan but fg and leo are still the likely party to lead next time check the opinion polls
@Carpentoza: Those phony phone calls they make to the usual 1000 people? These polls are used to ‘shape’ rather than ‘gauge’ public opinion. Who are the directors/shareholders of the polling companies?
@Carpentoza: I’m no fan but, Stop fooling your self pal, time to come out as an FGer.
@Dot Com: social media is irrelevant. Old people don’t read social media.
@Dot Com: But he will get back in.
@Tommy Berry: Everbody knows he wont/
@Chin Feeyin: Another misconception!
@Nuala Mc Namara: True, its also funny how few government apologists are on here trying to defend FFG. Maybe they are still in bed having a LIE-ON.
@Dot Com: The spin doctors control 1000′s of social media accounts which are easily spotted.
They will attack en mass to lessen damage to verruca.
@tommytukamomo: “1,000s of social media accounts”. Really?
@Chin Feeyin: ‘social media is irrelevant. Old people don’t read social media’
Really???
@Frank Cauldhame: dismissing information as fraudulent because it doesn’t suit you is hardly mature debate. The poorly informed representing as the enlightened
@Frank Cauldhame: Just because someone says that Leo will get back in doesn’t make them a FG apologist it just makes them a realist.
Rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic.
@tommytukamomo:
Do you think the government is at risk?
@Tweety McTweeter: Hopefully, but the same old sows & swine want to keep their snouts in the trough.
@tommytukamomo: more like lining up some more of his chums for a ministerial pension !! move a few on -those that have enough ‘service’ to claim a ministerial top up to their pension -and give some new faces a chance to boost their pension by a few grand a year !!
Housing and health about to receive a new 5 or 10 year plan.. FFG way…
@Willy Mc Caul: another 5 point plan
@tommytukamomo: five year ,plan ,duck, dive, dodge , denounce, and of course delude !
@Willy Mc Caul: Yes like the constantly wheeled out metro north nonsence? In the time they have been messing about with metro north London Has finished the dock lands light rail and the jubilee line and crossrail. In the and time 25 cities in China have completed full urban metro systems. The Spanish built a fabulous high speed rail systems. We’re still taking about a single short metro line for decades
@Gerard Heery: Now that’s definitely the FFG five year plan!
Election time sockboy
Shuffle the whole government!
Harris and Murphy about to get reassigned no doubt and the Irish media will, as always, ignore their disastrous failure.
They’ll both make a fine Taoiseach one day.
Oh no. Does that mean Shane Ross could be deployed to ruin a different area of our lives? Perhaps they could just make him the minister for making the tea at cabinet meetings?
@Conor Phillips: Lord Ross doesn’t make tea.. He has a boy for that… “Boy, fetch me my tea!”
@Conor Phillips:
I agree he’s got to be the worst Minister ever! Has ruined numerous industries with his policies.
This is so a lad thats not qualified for his brief can get a role where he’s not qualified for his brief..Sure what can possibly go wrong!!!!!
I reshuffle won’t mean much to anyone except themselves, with this incompetent bunch.
Another smug smarmy photo of this obnoxious tool.
@Adrian:Self satisfied smirk on his face
@Adrian: a tool has a use. However limited, but still has a use..
The minister for everything is as useful as a handbrake on a toilet seat.
This country is a society as well as an economy and it is people who vote for politicians not companies,etc.We hear from politicians many times on a daily basis on a variety of issues but with National emergencies in homelessness, housing and health,etc affecting our society,it’s time for politicians to really listen&it’s time for straight talking not spin,not divide &conquer and not excuses and it’s time for ALL sections of society to really feel that they matter&that the power really comes from the people!
Leo needs a boot up the backside himself
Replacing useless f”"kers with other useless f”"kers
Pass the buck time. No responsibility.
Politics, the art of the impossible, with our current totally inept useless bunch bringing new meaning to this self gratifying phrase, finding more things impossible than most.
Hopefully this clown will be first
I hope fine gael get re-elected
@Billy Davies: That’s nice, I hope they don’t.
Send Ross somewhere…
Anywhere.
Hope he gets rid of Shane Ross, when did anybody cause an accident with 50mg of Alcohol on board? Probably never!!
@Maire: Fond of a drink and a bit of driving? Hope you get busted
@Barra O Brien: Sorry, Dara, I don’t drink and Drive!
Yea abdication of the little responsibility there is.
That won’t change anything, not even their underwear?
Please god he sees sense and gets rid of that clown Shane Ross
C
Coveney would be a far better Taoiseach,
I’m sick of sock boy!
have your say