James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 20:

In page 23, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:"(2) The audit committee shall--

(a) advise the Directorate on financial matters relating to its functions,
(b) report in writing at least once in every year to the Directorate on those matters, and
(c) provide a copy of that report to the Minister.".

Amendment No. 20 is a substantive amendment designed to give the audit committee a role in advising the directorate on financial matters relating to its functions. This is in addition to the role the audit committee has in advising the director general. As the provision stands in the Bill, the role of the audit committee is focused exclusively on the director general, who will be the Accounting Officer. However, it is appropriate the audit committee should also have a role in advising the directorate on financial matters relating to its functions, such as with regard to the annual financial statement of the HSE. Amendment No. 20 provides for this role.

Amendments Nos. 21 and 23 to 25, inclusive, are technical amendments to renumber subsections consequential to the widening of the committee's functions.