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

They are directed at everybody who is listening. I want to be straight about that in order to develop a perspective. I think I am unique, with the possible exception of Deputy McGuinness, in serving previously as a Government backbencher and now as a member of the Opposition. There was always tension between Ministers and the committee. When Accounting Officers got a hard time from us, they could not voice their complaints publicly. They would go home or back to their offices to complain to their Ministers about backbenchers giving them a hard time, with the result that Ministers collectively started to view the committee as troublesome or a nuisance. Fine Gael and Labour Party Ministers are feeling the same way as their predecessors. It comes with the territory. What is the purpose of having a Comptroller and Auditor General and a constitutional role for his office and the Committee of Public Accounts if we are to serve at the pleasure of Ministers? We would be better to close up shop. The day the committee does not trouble Ministers is the day we should go home. I hope there will always be tension between this committee and the Government of the day to ensure we hold it to account.