Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have no problem with any of that. Mr. Ó Foghlú has highlighted to me what I regard to be across-the-board issues, not specific ones.

The audited accounts refer to a figure of €1.2 billion in Government funding for 2011. The figure was the same the year before. A formal memorandum of understanding was not in place between the Department and the HSE. Can Mr. Ó Foghlú list the other agencies in respect of which a memorandum of understanding has been completed or is in the process of completion? I ask that the committee write formally to every Accounting Officer asking for details of those organisations that have a written memorandum of understanding with the Department in circumstances where those organisations are receiving large amounts of funds.

I am shocked to hear that, up to some days ago, there was no memorandum of understanding in place governing the €1.2 billion in taxpayers' money. I am concerned that this is being repeated across other Departments and that they are only now beginning to address the matter. I would like to know what other gaps were or are in the system and the dates of the agreements. We need to know the agreements are in place. While the Department feels a memorandum of understanding is a good idea, it was not acted upon before 28 April this year. I am not suggesting for a minute there was anything wrong in how the Department did its business but it should understand how we, as members of a public accounts committee, would be unhappy that large amounts of money are going from Accounting Officers without written memoranda of understanding. Do the delegates understand my point? They concur with it because-----