Labour Transport Spokesperson Tommy Broughan T.D. has called on Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to urgently release a CIE commissioned report on alleged irregularities in the procurement process at Irish Rail.

Deputy Broughan said, "A number of weeks ago there were serious allegations in the media about alleged irregularities and malpractices in the procurement process for certain Irish Rail projects. Apparently CIE commissioned their own internal investigation through the consultants Baker, Tilly, Ryan and Glennon who compiled a report on this matter. On foot of the media allegations the Dail Transport Committee also requested that Dr. John Lynch the Chairperson of CIE appear before the Committee on Tuesday to address the allegations.

"I asked Minister Dempsey last week if he has received the report and to indicate when he will make this report public in particular to facilitate the work of Transport Committee members in invigilating the allegations. The Minister replied to me in a Parliamentary Question this week that "I have received the report referred to by the Deputy and I will be placing a copy of it in the Oireachtas library."

"However, as of this morning the report has still not been placed in the Oireachtas Library and I understand that the Department of Transport cannot say when the report will be made available.

"The work of the Dail Transport Committee is being made much more difficult by Minister Dempsey’s failure to publish this critical document. Minister Dempsey should now immediately publish the report and ensure that the Transport Committee can fully investigate the significant issues raised about irregularities in procurement at Irish Rail."