Estimated 30 or more deals under scrutiny in Siteserv inquiry, Taoiseach tells Dail

Thirty or more cases, involving a loss of more than €10 million each to the taxpayer, will be examined in the inquiry into the Siteserv sale, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.

He told the Dáil the special liquidator's review would go back to 2009 and continue to 2013. "In the event of any perception of a conflict of interest in that review, a retired High Court judge was appointed to adjudicate on those matters," said Mr Kenny.

He said the framework structure set in place, when Siteserv was dealt with, did not require mandatory reporting to the Minister for Finance. “It does now,” he added.

The Taoiseach was responding to renewed Opposition criticism of the Government’s handling of the inquiry.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the crucial issue of concerns being raised by the Department of Finance was not being dealt with. He asked if the Taoiseach stood by civil servants in the department.

Tensions

Mr Martin

said

Cliff Taylor

had summed up matters in

The Irish Times

when he wrote that the tensions in the relationship between the department and IBRC were “striking and a cause for concern when so much money was at stake”.

Mr Kenny replied: "I would remind Deputy Martin that unlike his own outfit, which proceeded with Anglo Irish Bank and cost us €34 billion, this Government has no difficulty in defending the taxpayer's rights in public and in an accountable fashion."

The Taoiseach said Mr Martin had demanded a commission of investigation into Siteserv. “I made the point that if one sets up a commission of investigation there is a long lead-in and, possibly, a long period before one receives a report,” he added. “The deputy wants answers now.”

Dáil stonewalled

Sinn Féin leader

Gerry Adams

said Minister for Finance

Michael Noonan

had “stonewalled” on the issue in the Dáil from 2012 onwards. He asked: “Why did he withhold information from the Dáil?”

Mr Adams said the Government was supposed to protect the interests of the taxpayers, yet the Taoiseach had said Mr Noonan did not deal with each of the 30 or so transactions of more than €100 million that were now part of the review.

He said: “If this is so, is this acceptable to the Taoiseach, given that Department of Finance officials have expressed such serious concerns regarding these transactions? Leaving aside any other interpretation, if what the Taoiseach is telling us is true, does this not show gross incompetence on the Government’s part ?”

Mr Kenny said the framework structure, set up by the previous government, meant there was no connection, interference or questioning from the department in respect of those major transactions.