David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If Mr. McCarthy is the Accounting Officer and the State is in the dock for non-compliance and we are facing fines, I would be a bit concerned that the Department is not sufficiently robust in the position that we are not facing fines. Mr. McCarthy is saying we have at least identified the cost and we have a plan to fund up to 2021. It is a matter for each budget that the funding will be presented but I imagine if we say to the Commission that we have a plan to 2021 and have identified the cost of compliance, it should be able to work with us and there should not be a problem. I am wondering why Mr. McCarthy cannot tell us today that we should not face fines.