Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1985 > Committee on Commercial State-Sponsored Bodies > Report No. 02 - Irish Shipping Limited

APPENDIX 6

LETTER TO MR. AUBREY McELHATTON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, IRISH CONTINENTAL LINE, FROM CLERK TO JOINT COMMITTEE

I am directed by the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Commercial State-Sponsored Bodies, Mr. Frank Prendergast, T.D., to inform you that the Joint Committee at its meeting yesterday passed the following Resolution:

“That the Committee recognises the widespread public concern regarding the situation in Irish Shipping and further recognises that the lessons to be learned from that experience may have relevance to other Semi-State companies; accordingly resolves to publish a report and conclusions on Irish Shipping as soon as possible; and in this regard, it directs the Clerk to the Committee to invite any of the following who may be willing to do so to give evidence to the Committee:-

A. The Board of Irish Shipping.

B. The Board of Celtic Bulk Carriers.

C. Representatives of the appropriate Unions.

D. Any member or group of staff members of Irish Shipping.

E. The Minister for Communications or appropriate members of his staff.

F. The Provisional Liquidator.

G. Representatives of the Department of Finance.

H. Any other persons who might have relevant information.”

I am to state that the Joint Committee wishes to hear any evidence you may wish to give in connection with its enquiry into Irish Shipping Limited and in this connection I would ask you to be good enough to let me know as a matter of urgency whether you wish to accept the Joint Committee’s invitation.

A meeting of the Joint Committee has been arranged for Wednesday next, 5 December, 1984, at 5 p.m., in Leinster House and the intention would be to hear your evidence at that meeting if you were in a position to attend.

Yours sincerely,

C. O’BRIEN,

Clerk to the Joint Committee,

29 November, 1984.

LETTER TO CLERK TO JOINT COMMITTEE FROM MR. AUBREY McELHATTON MANAGING DIRECTOR, IRISH CONTINENTAL LINE,

Thank you for your letter of 29th inst., and your invitation to the Joint Committee on Commercial State-Sponsored Bodies meeting to be held on Wednesday next 5th December, at 5 p.m.

I must apologise at this stage for not being able to attend on this date due to an important business commitment. I should say that I would like to co-operate as much as I can with your Committee and would be quite prepared to speak to the Committee on another date.

I should emphasise that I have not worked directly for Irish Shipping since the Autumn of 1983. My present employment is with Irish Continental Line which is owned by Irish Shipping Limited and Allied Irish Banks Limited. I, therefore, would have to consult with them before accepting an invitation on a future date with your Committee.

I thank you once again for this invitation and hope your Committee will understand the circumstances as to why I cannot attend on this particular date.

Yours sincerely,

A. McELHATTON,

Managing Director,

30 November, 1984.

LETTER TO MR. AUBREY McELHATTON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, IRISH CONTINENTAL LINE, FROM CLERK TO JOINT COMMITTEE

I am directed by the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Commercial State-Sponsored Bodies, Mr. Frank Prendergast, T.D., to thank you for your letter of 30 November, 1984 in connection with the Joint Committee’s enquiry into Irish Shipping Limited.

The next meeting of the Joint Committee has been arranged for Tuesday, 8 January, 1985 at 11 a.m. in Leinster House and I am to ask whether you would be in a position to attend that meeting for the purpose of giving evidence. If the date of the meeting does not suit your convenience perhaps you will be good enough to suggest alternative suitable Tuesday dates.

Yours sincerely,

C. O’BRIEN,

Clerk to the Joint Committee,

18 December, 1984.

LETTER TO CLERK TO JOINT COMMITTEE FROM MR. AUBREY McELHATTON MANAGING DIRECTOR, IRISH CONTINENTAL LINE,

I thank you for your invitation to attend an Oireachtas Committee meeting at 11.00 a.m. on January 8th.

I regret however, that I will be out of the country on holidays for the first half of January, and therefore, cannot attend on that date.

After your previous invitation I sought the advice of our shareholders in Irish Continental Line regarding the possibility of giving evidence relating to Irish Shipping Limited. They feel, frankly, that Irish Continental Line’s existence can best be preserved by distancing itself from Irish Shipping Limited. I have been associated with this Company since its inception in 1973 and I certainly could not accept any invitation that might have damaging repercussions to I.C.L.

Again I thank you for your invitation.

Yours sincerely,

A. McELHATTON,

Managing Director,

21 December, 1984.