Connect Ireland boss calls on Tanaiste to open investigation into IDA jobs row

CONNECT Ireland has asked the Tanaiste to ensure a formal independent investigation takes place into the IDA’s conduct towards the jobs creation initiative.

The request came in a letter last week to Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald from Connect Ireland CEO Joanna Murphy following a meeting between the two to discuss the cancellation by IDA of its contract and the subsequent ongoing row between the two organisations. Murphy wrote to Fitzgerald that she was “somewhat encouraged that you might seek to intervene to stem the damage that has been caused to the diaspora network and job creation.” But Murphy said Fitzgerald’s enterprise department was to revert with proposals for a way forward and “this has not materialised”.

“IDA has continued to disseminate inaccurate information as to the success of the initiative, which is continuing to cause damage to Connect Ireland. We had hoped that this misinformation might end following our meeting, but quite the opposite has in fact occurred,” wrote Murphy.

She cited an appearance at the Public Accounts Committee by IDA chief executive Martin Shanahan in which he said the initiative had failed to hit a target of 5,000 jobs. The Department of Enterprise has previously clarified in a correction on its website that no such target existed.

In a second letter to the Public Accounts Committee chairman Sean Fleming, Murphy said that Connect Ireland had discovered “regular and unexplained blocking of leads”. “That blocking occurred on the basis the IDA was already in contact with that particular company on a project, but in many instances that was not the case. A remarkable number of leads were blocked, over 700 companies in total.”

Fianna Fail enterprise spokesman Niall Collins said IDA had shown “complete disregard and disrespect” to the Enterprise & Jobs committee by failing to attend to discuss the row.

“IDA’s whole approach to dealing with the issues has damaged their brand in my eyes,” said Collins, adding that the Comptroller & Auditor General should carry out a value for money review into the project.

At a recent PAC committee hearing Shanahan said he refuted earlier comments by Collins “in respect of our behaviour having been reprehensible”. “It has been in no way reprehensible,” said Shanahan, adding the organisation had behaved professionally in both the “spirit and the letter” of the operation of the contract.