Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue is clear. The Minister is elected to take responsibility for all of the issues that arise and to report and account to the Oireachtas on them. The duty of the chief executive is to be accountable for the accounts and to discuss the issues in the accounts, but the Minister takes political responsibility. That is why he or she is elected and why he or she stands for election. Governments rise or fall on the accountability of the Ministers concerned. They are the people who are elected and they are accountable. There is nothing more I can say on that.