Probe is better late than never
Seán Cromien, a former Secretary General of the Department of Finance, will undertake the review on behalf of the Department of the Marine and Kerry County Council.
It is certainly a bit late for such a review, as the boat is already built and is certified as sea-worthy, but it is better late than never.
People are entitled to full information about what happened to public money in relation to this project, which was recently saved from liquidation by the intervention of Kerry Group, with the support of Kerry County Council and Shannon Development.
That intervention afforded the project what has been viewed as a last chance to succeed.
The minister has stressed that he supports the latest initiative and believes that it could have benefits for the whole island.
Those involved with the project have welcomed the review ordered by the minister.
They argue that public disquiet will be allayed, because the review will demonstrate that the project has been worthwhile.
Of course, they would say that. It is in everybody’s interest that the best possible use should be made of the ship on which a fortune has been spent.
In addition to a full accounting of that money, we need to know the plans for the ship to ensure that the haemorrhaging of public money does not continue.
