The former president of Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) signed off on over €7,000 for his own retirement functions.

The institute is being asked for a full explanation of how Brendan Murphy approved the events, which cost the taxpayer nearly €13,000.

One function included an ice sculpture of a dolphin, with catering provided by a subsidiary company of the college and floor service by tourism and hospitality students.

The Irish Examiner reports that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Dáil is to ask the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to examine the financial controls that were in place.

It is also being asked to issue guidelines to ensure it does not happen again.