Paul Murphy questioned the payment of €141.4 million from public funds to the World Bank in advance of Pascal Donoghue taking up his new job, asking why €10 million more was paid than the World Bank requested. He said the Department of Finance business case lists a €131.4 million 'Invisors' option and describes €141.4 million as a higher option, and he requested publication and clarification.
Funding discrepancy
Paul Murphy pressed for an explanation of why €141.4 million was paid when the World Bank's Invisors level was listed at €131.4 million in the business case. He cited figures from a Department of Finance presentation and asked whether the record should be corrected.
Business case and information requests
He said he had read the business case, noted that it lists several options and that it describes the €141.4 million as a higher-level option rather than the low option. He also said an FOI request had been made and asked that the business case be published for clarity.
Officials' recommendations and ministerial decision
Murphy said officials had suggested a contribution of €150 million, and that the minister ultimately agreed on €141.4 million. He said he would seek to reconcile the notes he had with those presented in the Dáil.
Context and parliamentary exchange
He framed the payment in the context of support for the 75 poorest countries globally that are aided by the organisation and concluded the exchange by thanking the clerk. The statement ended with a commitment to reconcile the differing notes and figures raised in the debate.
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I want to return to the issue of the €141 million paid by the public to the World Bank in advance of Pascal Donoghue taking up his new job. Yesterday you told me that a formal business case was prepared by the Department of Finance and the low option was €141.4 million. I have read the business case. It does list a number of options. It lifts option three, which is the World Bank Invisors level, which is what they were asking for, €131.4 million, and then describes the €141.4 million as the higher level option, not the low option. Would you like to correct the record at all? Can you explain why we paid €10 million more than the World Bank asked for? The figures I gave yesterday and the comments were from the Department of Finance presentation to me, and I have asked that the business case would be published. There was an FOI in relation to that. There was a suggested contribution from officials of €150 million, if you wish to go forward. After the Minister agreed on the €141 million. So, look, I will seek to reconcile the various notes that you have with the notes that I have, that I articulated yesterday in the Dáil. Thank you, Tisha. But, as you know, we are talking about the 75 poorest countries globally that are supported by this organisation. That was the context. That concludes. Thank you, Tisha. Thanks, Tisha.
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