Tynan report referred for further examination

THE report into the sacking of former Bord na gCon chief executive Aidan Tynan has recommended that certain matters be referred to the Comptroller and Auditor General, John Purcell, for examination.

They refer to matters that came up during the course of Tim Dalton’s investigation, but which he considered to be outside the scope of his enquiry. They are believed to mostly relate to the development of the Shelbourne Park course several years ago.

The State’s financial watchdog, the Public Accounts Committee, already examined Bord na gCon’s financial operations in April 2004, following a report prepared by the C&AG John Purcell.

However, it is believed that Mr Tynan submitted that his attempts to bring up matters relating to work at Shelbourne Park, which pre-dated his own appointment, may have been a factor in his deteriorating relationship with the Board and with its chairman, Pascal Taggart.

The Irish Examiner also understands that Mr Tynan wrote to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O’Donoghue, last week, to protest at a spate of public comments by Mr Taggart in advance of the publication of the report.

That may have led to the decision by the Minister to issue a stern press release on Thursday deploring media leaks and comments in defiance of his request to all parties to desist from public statements.

The press release was directed specifically at Mr Taggart, who defended his position in a number of newspaper, radio and TV interviews last week.

Meanwhile, the appointment of former SDLP leader Seamus Mallon and Punchestown general manager Nicky O’Sullivan to the board was yesterday being received as the Minister asserting his authority over the board.

Two members of the board are replaced every year on the expiry of their three-year terms. Cathal Curley, viewed as a strong ally of Mr Taggart, was not reappointed.

Meanwhile, the report by Mr Dalton, a former secretary general of the Department of Justice, was discussed briefly by the Cabinet yesterday.

However, the final report is not now expected to be published until the second week of June. All those who received the report have been asked to make their final submissions by May 31. Mr Dalton is then expected to take a further week to finalise the document.