Sir, - There is an office in this country called the Comptroller and Auditor General which functions to keep the Oireachtas and therefore the taxpayer aware of how State and semi state bodies spend their budgets.
Therefore the annual audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General's team of expert staff were either aware of the pay, expenses and other arrangements for Dr Eddie O'Connor at Bord na Mona or somebody should be asking questions. If the Comptroller and Auditor General's office was aware of the arrangements, then the Minister for Finance would also be aware. Having spent a portion of my career in the semi State sector, I am aware that no penny is paid out, spent or budgeted without proper sanction and signatures.
If this was not the case then many more people than Dr O'Connor have a lot of explaining to do. Yours, etc.,
Elm Park,
Ennis Road, Limerick.