MORE THAN €5 million was paid into a controversial bank account used to finance foreign trips for public officials and trade union figures, according to a report published today.
The Dáil Public Accounts Committee will today consider how millions of euro of State funding ended up in the account that was controlled by two individuals associated with the trade union Siptu.
The report also identified more than 40 foreign trips undertaken by civil and public servants, trade union officials and others that were funded by the Siptu “levy” account – again more than previously understood to be the case.
A separate HSE internal audit report…[adds] that in effect the forum has been unable to account for the disbursement of €770,000 of taxpayers’ funds to Siptu.
Siptu corporately has said the “levy” account was an unofficial one.
The Dáil committee was told last year that the account was controlled by a senior Siptu official, Matt Merrigan (middle pic), and a former national executive member, Jack Kelly (bottom pic).
Over €5m Paid Into Siptu Fund – Report (Martin Wall, Irish Times)
Siptu To Demote Official Over Travel Fund (RTE, June 24, 2011)