PAC to investigate spending at defunct Hepatitis C support group

The Public Accounts Committee has agreed to investigate spending at a Hepatitis C group.

The decision comes after the group, Positive Action, spent more than a quarter of a million euro in travel expenses.

An audit of the now-defunct group says it spent €2.3m in State funds on the likes of lobster meals, dog kennels, manicures and relaxation weekends.

At the PAC this morning, Shane Ross asked the chairman John McGuinness and clerk Ted McEnery to investigate.

Mr Ross said: "They liquidated earlier this year, but that doesn't stop us bringing them in.

"There are directors who could come in and officials who could come in and tell us what happened. Don't let the lawyers near this one, please."