Andrew Carey
AMID heightened controversy, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has agrees that they want to hear from the Garda whistle blower in relation to the fixed charge notice system.
It is understood that meeting will be held in private next Thursday when the committee will hear the evidence.
Chairman of the Committee John McGuinness said: “It may well be that the Whistle-Blower has evidence that can highlight further the weaknesses in the management of the fixed charge notice system.”
Earlier in the controversy, the Minister for justice intervened and the matter is now with the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission, but Mr McGuinness said “that investigation will not overlap with the examination by the PAC of the report of the C&AG.
“The PAC is looking at systems processes and procedures used in the management of the fixed charge notice system and whether possible weaknesses in systems and in controls could potentially have led to a loss to the Exchequer.”
While the Garda Ombudsman will investigate the allegations of multiple incidents of wrongful cancellations which are outside the remit of the Committee, Me McGuinness added that “the work of the PAC is not finished and the Committee needs to do a report with findings and recommendations based on evidence that outlines potential loss of revenue and weaknesses in the system.”
