John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In concluding the meeting I thank all the witnesses for attending. We set out this morning with some concern as to how the meeting might work out because the Accounting Officer and the two representative organisations are present but we did not want to get into a position where we would interfere with negotiations or begin to negotiate publicly on allowances. The meeting we had earlier, with the Secretary General of the Department, was most helpful. Some of the members have commented on how helpful it was, as well as the meeting here.

There is a mystery which is grossly misunderstood relating to how the allowances are described, what they are for and, in the case of the Defence Forces, the poor pay, some of which is core pay. If the process entered into this morning helps to take some of that mystery away and encourages those who are negotiating to a point where they see that the public wishes to understand what is going on and who is being paid what, there can be a better judgment call. If agreement cannot be reached on what is to be paid, the process can nonetheless be clarified for the public in what would be a helpful act. If the negotiations can be as open and constructive as this exchange this morning, they will be most helpful in reaching some sort of a positive conclusion for those who serve and those who administer. It would also be helpful for us on the Committee of Public Accounts, who represent the public and seek a greater understanding of what is going on.

Deputy Donohoe raised the point about the different questions and the table emerging from those. That came from the questions put by the clerk and officials of the committee, which gave us a greater understanding. That is also helpful. I hope other Accounting Officers and other representative groups could look at this meeting, as there is much to be learned from the very positive exchanges that can take place at a public accounts committee meeting and how helpful can be those exchanges. That applies not just to this process but to others which will come afterwards. It was a positive exchange of information that will be helpful for everybody.

I thank the witnesses and members - who did their homework, put questions and extracted information in a constructive and helpful manner - for their part in the meeting.