Social Democrats Louth Issue 1 Volume 1 | Page 31

F ROM THE W EB Tánaiste Corrects Dáil Record Following Questions From Catherine Murphy MARCH 31, 2017 On Thursday 30th March, the Tánaiste corrected the record of the Dáil regarding information she had given to Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy on the issues pertaining to the controversial Garda audit report. When Catherine Murphy first raised the issue in the Dáil back in early February, the Tánaiste had replied that the report had already received significant public exposure and discussion at the Justice Committee. Catherine Murphy’s subsequent investigations revealed the fact that the Justice Committee had never dealt with the report. The Tánaiste then claimed she had meant to say the PAC but Catherine Murphy was also able to show that the PAC had never dealt with the report in detail either. During priority questions in the Dáil today the Tánaiste agreed she had given misleading information and was, therefore, happy to correct the record of the Dáil. Catherine Murphy TD said: “I find it worrying that such misinformation can be provided by a Minister in such a flippant way. Had I simply accepted the minister’s response back in February and not pursued the issue further, the impression would stand that the report had been scrutinised when in fact that was not the case.” “Issues such as this are of grave concern and deserve to be given rigorous scrutiny in the public domain. For that reason, I am happy that the Minister has conceded that such scrutiny has not happened on this important report into accounting practices in the Garda training college but that it will receive the scrutiny required by the Public Accounts Committee.”