Flannery wants to know PAC ‘agenda’

The long-awaited showdown between the Dáil’s financial watchdog and Frank Flannery edged closer, as the former Rehab chief said he wanted to know the “agenda” of TDs before any appearance.

In a letter to the Public Accounts Committee, Mr Flannery, who quit as Fine Gael’s chief strategist due to the controversy, insisted he wanted to “disabuse” the idea he was at odds with the PAC. Mr Flannery stated he was anxious to correct “the misconception that a substantial impasse has arisen” between himself and the powerful Dáil committee.

Mr Flannery said, once the PAC contacted him at his home address, he would deal with their inquiries.

The ex-Rehab director said he will respond to an invitation when he knows what the “agenda” is.

Mr Flannery said he would initially deal with the concerns in writing, but PAC members made it clear that would not be good enough.

The committee was expected to press Mr Flannery further on appearing before it at a meeting today which will consider the Rehab affair.

The move came as Mr Flannery faced further questions over his lobbying activities while working as a senior backroom figure in government for Fine Gael.

The spotlight was thrown back on his activities after it was revealed Mr Flannery was paid €60,000 a year to promote tax reform initiatives on behalf of Philanthropy Ireland.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan met Mr Flannery and other members of the Forum on Philanthropy in July 2012, according reports. Mr Hogan’s diary showed the minister had meetings with Mr Flannery on half a dozen occasions between July 2012 and March 2013, including one with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, according to RTÉ.

Mr Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore have both publicly put pressure on Mr Flannery to bow to PAC calls for him to appear before it. Mr Gilmore criticised Mr Hogan after the environment minister claimed PAC had over-stepped its remit and the affair had been politicised.

The saga saw Mr Flannery resign as Fine Gael’s chief strategist and as a Rehab director in recent days after reports he was paid by the charity to lobby government ministers on its behalf.

In a written reply to the PAC, Rehab said it could not provide details of Mr Flannery’s pension as this would breach data protection rules.

PAC member and Independent TD Shane Ross was critical of the charity’s attitude.

“I think asking questions of Rehab is like pulling teeth — its a minimalist response. We get very little information,” Mr Ross said.

Members of PAC have indicated they may try to compel Mr Flannery to appear before them, if he refuses to do so on a voluntary basis.