PAC: Ex Rehab bosses may not attend

Ousted Rehab bosses Angela Kerins and Frank Flannery have still not clarified if they will attend tomorrow’s showdown with the Dáil’s spending watchdog — despite the charity insisting it has learned its lesson on transparency.

The question marks over Ms Kerins, who retired as Rehab chief executive last week, and Mr Flannery, who cut ties with the charity last month, were detailed last night by John McGuinness, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.

In a statement released just hours after the disability charity admitted that previous answers on how it spends public money have been “inadequate”, Mr McGuinness said the committee had yet to hear from either official on whether they will attend as asked.

Despite the group contacting them directly over the same issue last Thursday, it is understood Rehab has also yet to receive any clarification on the matter.

Fears Ms Kerins and Mr Flannery will fail to turn up at the long-awaited meeting — which will discuss serious financial issues linked to both officials — appeared to contradict Rehab’s sudden admission it has yet to explain how it spends €83m in public money every year.

In a statement, Rehab chairman Brian Kerr said previous answers have been “inadequate” and insisted the problems will be addressed.

Stressing the group has commissioned an independent governance review in a bid to bring the crisis to an end, he said the charity may make changes at board level and improve transparency on what top officials are paid.

“As a board we have not exercised strict and appropriate oversight of certain issues,” he said in a the statement.

“The board’s priority now is to initiate a programme of transformation and change which will allow us to candidly confront the issues and to rebuild the reputation, staff morale, and effectiveness of the organisation.

“We are committed to making whatever changes are necessary, including changes to the board, to ensure [we] can have the full confidence of those who use our services and those who fund us.”

It is understood the review will address issues as they are highlighted, and will not result in a final report.

The plan will be carried out by Dr Eddie Molloy, an independent “change management consultant” who has a 35-year track record in reform projects across the public, private, and charity sectors.

Rehab has already confirmed all officials working for it who have been asked to the committee meeting will turn up. However, as Ms Kerins and Mr Flannery no longer work for the charity and are private citizens, Rehab cannot speak on their behalf.

Speaking in the Dáil, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that “for a very long time”, his belief has been that “anybody” in charities receiving public money should appear before the PAC, if asked.

He said it is vital those making donations to charities “feel happy all of that money will go for the purposes for which it is intended”.

Asked by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin about Mr Flannery’s ties to Fine Gael, Mr Kenny said it is unacceptable for charities to pay officials to lobby Government, but said “I do not have any information about that”.