asked the Minister for Agriculture the steps he proposes to take, firstly, to establish the circumstances in which a major fraud in Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teo. remained undetected for a prolonged period and, secondly, to ensure that no similar fraud can recur either in this company or in other State companies.

The circumstances of the fraud have already been established by an independent firm of auditors specially engaged by the company for that purpose. Their report, furnished to the board in June 1980, made recommendations on improved financial control and these have been implemented by the company.

There is nothing to suggest that financial control procedures in other State companies under my Department's aegis are inadequate.

The Minister said the circumstances of the fraud were identified in 1980 by a firm of auditors.

Apart from the criminal aspect.

Can he tell us the steps being taken to ensure it will not happen again in the company?

I have had discussions with the company chairman on this and steps are being taken. I agree with the Deputy that it was disturbing, to say the least of it, that such a delay occurred.

Can he tell us the specific steps being taken to prevent the sale of the company products on export markets? What steps will be taken to ensure that such exports will not finally work out to the detriment of the company, as appears to have happened?

I assure the Deputy the accountancy procedures, financial control and so on, have been improved. On a broader front, I am waiting on a very full programme of investment by CSET with a view to utilising the £30 million provided in the recent Bill and further equity investment in the next four years. I assure the Deputy there is a new attitude to future investment programmes.

Is not this wider than simple accountancy procedures? Surely some trading practices would have given rise to part of the problem to which deficiencies in accountancy procedures would have added?

Some of the trading practices were loose. They will be changed, and that will be part of the investment proposals which will be studied. As I assured the Deputy during the passage of the Bill recently, we are taking a very close look at the operations of the company to ensure that the £30 million and future capital investment will be utilised along rational ways. We do not want a repetition.