John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To my mind, it is not satisfactory because it seems that having the one audit across all third level institutions is not working for other reasons. These reasons are better spelled out in the various complaints we have received from various bodies, ranging from the VECs to the institutes of technology and universities. That is certainly a matter Mr. Watt should examine because sometimes buying in a uniform service for that type of grouping does not work well in achieving transparency and accountability. We have seen examples which we are still exploring. In line with that comment, I am deeply disturbed by what we have found in the institutes in Waterford, Cork, the VEC in Cork and expenditure in other universities. There is a huge issue in these third level bodies that needs to be addressed, to the extent that one member has asked that the presidents of Galway and Sligo institutes of technology be invited to come here to explain the procurement process. The same issues apply to the institutes in Waterford and Cork. The Department should examine this issue.