Transparency - Siteserve sale inquiry call

THERE is growing concern around a number of IBRC transactions, including the 2012 sale of Siteserv to a company controlled by plutocrat Denis O’Brien.

Independent TD Catherine Murphy and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin have called for an independent inquiry into the circumstances of the €45m Siteserv sale.

The sale process is at the centre of a fractious correspondence between IBRC and Department of Finance officials. The situation is so fraught that Finance Minister Michael Noonan has appointed one of his officials to oversee similar deals in the future.

The sale of State assets has given rise to conflict and suspicions before. That Mr O’Brien was involved in one of those sagas and one of his companies is involved in the current furore suggests that the principles of transparency so championed by the Government before it was elected might be exercised in this case.

A full and independent inquiry may not be necessary, but a credible and full explanation is certainly needed.

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