Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Do any other members wish to come in? Okay, on the basis of that discussion, we will ask the clerk to write to Tusla to seek further information on those issues. Specifically, we will seek the explanation for such a large figure going to CPL, as well as asking how many contracts and engagements that company has had and how many pieces of work it has done for Tusla and the full value of those. That would be useful.

The next item on the agenda is complicated because there is a number of pieces. Nos. 257B, 273B and 274B are related. We will take Nos. 257B and 273B first and they are from Nick Ashmore, CEO of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, dated 9 December and 21 December respectively. These are responses requested from the committee on matters raised in correspondence by an individual, which, with the consent of that individual, we forwarded to the SBCI for response. In my opinion, the responses do not sufficiently address the concerns raised.

We also requested the Department of Finance to respond to these matters, which it did in correspondence item No. 274Bfrom Mr. Derek Moran, Secretary General, Department of Finance, dated 21 December 2020.

Although not flagged for discussion, it is related. This response is not in any way illuminating either.

Arising from our consideration of several items of correspondence and related responses, I do not believe the matters raised have been directly or sufficiently addressed. We had previously agreed to include the matter in our work programme, and I propose that we schedule an engagement with representatives of Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, to examine this matter in the context of its latest financial statement. Before I put that proposal to members, I will open the discussion to the floor. Does any member wish to comment on the SBCI correspondence?