Inquiry Reveals Fisheries Agency Allowed False Insurance Claims

A recent inquiry into Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has raised significant concerns regarding the agency’s handling of an employee’s false insurance documentation after a vehicle crash. The incident, which occurred in Donegal four years ago, involved an official vehicle that IFI was not insured to operate. According to a report commissioned by former minister Eamon Ryan, the agency allegedly permitted the staff member to present misleading information to An Garda Síochána, the national police service of Ireland.

During a session of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee, IFI representatives denied the claim that they “knowingly” allowed any fraudulent activity. The committee, however, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the agency’s management, particularly criticizing their responses to inquiries. Committee chairman John Brady of Sinn Féin remarked on the organization’s apparent lack of preparation, stating, “I have seldom seen an organisation so ill-prepared for an appearance.”

The scrutiny intensified when James Geoghegan, a member of the Fine Gael party, characterized some of IFI’s testimony as “not remotely credible.” Further criticism came from Eoghan Kenny of the Labour Party, who asserted that IFI had lost the trust of both the public and the committee, with calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the organization.

This inquiry follows revelations from the Comptroller and Auditor General, which indicated that 15 of IFI’s hired vehicles, including the one involved in the crash, were uninsured. In the hearing, acting IFI chief executive Barry Fox maintained that the agency did not intentionally submit false documentation but acknowledged that the insurance certificate presented at the time was invalid.

Field services manager Michael Cusack added that the agency was informed by its insurer in November 2021 that liability would not be accepted. He noted that IFI did not engage with the police because they did not recognize a legal obligation to do so. Mr. Kenny confronted Fox, stating, “So you allowed a staff member to receive a summons from An Garda Síochána in relation to no insurance even though you were acutely aware of the fact that the vehicle itself was not insured?”

The issue deepened when it was revealed that an external investigator’s report, based on a protected disclosure, had been presented to the IFI board in February 2023. Fox initially claimed he was unaware of the report or its findings, which later prompted skepticism from committee members. Under questioning from Geoghegan, Fox stated that he attended the February board meeting but reiterated that he had not seen the report’s details at that time.

As the hearing progressed, it became evident that confusion plagued the agency’s communication. Towards the end of the proceedings, IFI’s head of finance, Suzanne Campion, confessed to having prepared a document concerning the external investigator’s report for the board. She apologized for the earlier confusion regarding the subject matter being discussed.

This unfolding situation not only highlights potential governance issues within IFI but also raises questions about accountability and transparency in public agencies. The committee’s findings and subsequent recommendations may lead to significant changes in how IFI operates moving forward, as the agency strives to regain public confidence and rectify its internal processes.