Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I take the point Ms Tallon is making that local government in essence should be local government, that it should do its job and that the Department should not be intervening, but that is not what the Comptroller and Auditor General is saying. He is commenting on a report the Environmental Protection Agency gave him which indicated that there was a considerable decline in the number of inspections by local authorities. It makes sense to have a national picture of that in order that agencies, other than the local authorities and for purposes other than only inspection, could use that information and compare local authorities to establish those are doing the job best, have peer review and so on. The Comptroller and Auditor General's recommendation is simple and straightforward and, not to be picky, Ms Tallon's response to it was, "Not agreed." The Department does not agree with it and it will not do it. This is the committee that deals with the Comptroller and Auditors General's reports and recommendations. Ms Tallon still has not given me an answer as to why she will not do what has been recommended.