OFMDFM refuses to answer questions on appointments

THE Office of First and Deputy First Minister is refusing to answer questions about whether it was aware of the potential for events at Temple Bar Cultural Trust in Dublin to cast a shadow of controversy over the UK City of Culture.The revelation comes as questions are being asked over another City of Culture appointment, and follows the resignation last month of Project Director Dermot McLaughlin who had been seconded from Temple Bar Cultural Trust by the Strategic Investment Board, which is responsible to OFMDFM.Temple Bar Cultural Trust was the subject of a damaging report earlier this year, which itself followed a hugely critical report (Latitude Report) in June 2011. While there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of individuals, The Sentinel exclusively revealed damning details of the latest audit, which was commissioned by Dublin City Council. The organisation is now being wound down.Posing questions to OFMDFM about Mr McLaughlin’s appointment on March 25, the Sentinel said the suspension and then sacking of former Head of Communications Garbhan Downey had brought controversy to the City of Culture last autumn and with a tribunal hearing likely to happen sometime this year, further controversy is almost assured.We added: “Yet the new project director Dermot McLaughlin was seconded from an organisation under review for its financial governances etc and has since been the subject of an adverse report.”Mr McLaughlin was brought in at an inflated salary (an extra 19,600 euro above what he was paid in Dublin) without any tender being issued. OFMDFM gave SIB approval for that Single Tender Action. On March 25, OFMDFM was asked whether it gave any consideration to the possibility that the development might potentially attract more controversy, and if it had been placed in full possession of the facts before making such a decision.Mr McLaughlin resigned from the City of Culture post for personal reasons, a short time later. He has since returned to his position with Temple Bar Cultural