THE DÁIL’S PUBLIC Accounts Committee has been asked to examine the operation of a multi-million euro contract for an international protection centre in Co Tipperary.

Fine Gael TD for Tipperary South Michael Murphy wants the watchdog to review the Department of Justice’s contract, provided by the International Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) to Utmasta Limited for the operation of Dundrum House Hotel.

Utmasta, an Ireland-registered, Spanish-based business, was formed last year. It has had a State contract for housing people at Dundrum House Hotel since November 2024.

But there have been contested court claims this month over whether the true owner of Utmasta was concealed from the department when it was awarding the contract to house up to 200 people on the grounds of the west Tipperary resort.

Murphy told The Journal that contracts of the scale as seen in Dundrum “must withstand the highest scrutiny” given the sums involved.

“Where questions of procurement transparency, beneficial ownership, or planning legality arise, the Oireachtas must step in and provide oversight,” Murphy said.

Series of court cases

Over recent months, the hotel has been entangled in a series of court cases relating to the owners and the network of companies that are linked to Jeffrey Leo, a US businessman who bought the hotel a decade ago.

The latest sittings of those High Court cases, last week, heard how relations between Leo and his business partners had broken down.

Murphy’s request to the Public Accounts Committee comes on foot of fresh details arising from those court hearings.

In his comments to The Journal, Murphy said the Public Accounts Committee should be able to independently examine the Ipas contract given the public monies involved, separate to the ongoing court cases.

“I make no comment on matters before the courts, which will take their own course,” Murphy said.

“The issues I have raised concern the wider public interest — transparency in the award of public contracts, due diligence around beneficial ownership, compliance with planning law, and the safeguarding of taxpayer funds.”