Latest Dail stunt leaves question mark over McDonald suitability for PAC

3 December 2014

by Cllr Joe Costello

Today’s Dail stunt by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald where she made a statement in relation to the dossier on tax evasion supplied to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by the whistleblower in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation was inappropriate.

It is not true to say that PAC cannot do anything about the allegations in the dossier.  PAC has a remit to examine whether the systems and procedures for dealing with tax evasion were adequate to enable Revenue and the Gardai to take the necessary actions to pursue any wrongdoing.

Indeed, tomorrow we have the Chair of the Revenue Commissioners, Josephine Feehily, coming before PAC, and we will discuss tax matters arising from the whistleblower’s dossier.

It is damaging to the work of the committee for a member to name people mentioned in the dossier against whom nothing has been proved.  Also, it undermines the work and trust of the committee whose members, including Deputy McDonald, have agreed on a particular way forward.

In such circumstances, Sinn Fein should consider whether Deputy McDonald is now a suitable person to continue to represent the party on the PAC.