Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will learn very little if we look in isolation at the situation that was reported about the Chairman in a newspaper. People can decide whether the sum of money was large and they can arrive at their own conclusions. It would be helpful if details of the cost of refurbishing and renovating the offices of Ministers and Ministers of State around the same period of time were made available to this committee in order that we could form educated views. We should not have to rely on national newspapers making freedom of information requests to get such details. The expenditure of the Chairman has been subjected to freedom of information requests because he happens to hold a high profile position at this forum. We should know what the position is with regard to similar officeholders at that time. I am calling for that to happen. I do not think it is helpful that the freedom of information system has to be used if such information is to be obtained. That process tends to go on and on for weeks. The information in question should be made available to the Committee of Public Accounts by the Accounting Officers of the various Departments. We should be able to look at the different circumstances and situations. That is how one gets the whole picture. If we do not approach the matter in that way, it will be very difficult for us to come to any sort of judgment or conclusion on this isolated case.