Mr Makhlouf should accept report findings in full – McGrath

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Finance, Michael McGrath TD has acknowledged the completion of the review from the New Zealand State Services Commission into the actions of Mr Gabriel Makhlouf surrounding the premature release of budgetary material last May.

Deputy McGrath said Mr. Makhlouf should accept the findings of the report in full.

“This issue arose after Budget material in New Zealand was made available prior to the official Budget announcement on 30 May 2019. Mr Makhlouf was Secretary of the Treasury at the time and made a series of public statements involving the release of this material. One such statement suggested that the Treasury’s systems were deliberately and systematically hacked”, said Deputy McGrath.

“After further investigation from the Treasury and the New Zealand Police, it emerged that the material had been inadvertently made available on the Treasury website and the Treasury systems were not hacked. The investigation from the New Zealand State Services Commission then ensued and that has now been completed.

“I acknowledge the completion of the review and the conclusions drawn. In overall terms, it has been found that Mr Makhlouf acted in good faith and in a politically neutral manner. On the substantive issues, he was found to have acted reasonably.

“In relation to Mr Makhlouf’s written and oral media statements, the review found that he did not act reasonably in relation to his use of the phrase “deliberately and systematically hacked”. The report does not fully vindicate Mr. Makhlouf in respect of his public statements.

“I believe that Mr Makhlouf needs to accept the findings of this report in full. He is set to take up his role as Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland in September, which is among the most sensitive and important roles in the Irish State. Fianna Fáil believes Mr. Makhlouf should accept the report in its entirety and acknowledge where he has got it wrong as well as accepting where he has been vindicated.”