PAC tell John Halligan to clarify criticism of group for examining WIT financial issues

The Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee has told junior minister for skills John Halligan to clarify why he criticised the group for examining financial issues at Waterford IT, amid claims of an attempt to block any investigation that may damage his constituency.

The PAC has agreed to write to Mr Halligan over the case, after he sent out a statement from his department denouncing the PAC’s probe.

During its meetings with a number of colleges last week, the PAC questioned Waterford IT president Willie Donnelly over the sale of a mobile software company co-located at the college which benefited from WIT research. Feed Henry was sold to a US multinational firm in September 2014 for €63.5m, with Mr Donnelly receiving €1.3m as he owned 3.1% of Feed Henry’s shares.