Lost at sea scheme - Vote leaves a bad taste

DESPITE the best efforts of the Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly, Fianna Fáil deputies yesterday drew a line under what has been a controversial and divisive issue.

The Oireachtas Agriculture Committee, voting in private, rejected Ms O’Reilly’s findings after months of deliberation.

She had argued that the scheme was administered improperly and that former fisheries minister Frank Fahey had used undue influence on how the scheme was administered. The great majority of the funds distributed under the scheme went to two of his constituents.