Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to comment briefly before Deputy Cullinane comes in. The Comptroller and Auditor General brought this to my attention at the last moment. My statement this morning regarding the certificate of internal financial control that is in the published appropriation account was dated 31 March 2016 and that is the date on the document presented to us, signed by Nóirín O'Sullivan. I took that in good faith as presented, published and printed. Now the Comptroller and Auditor General has confirmed that it should have picked it up by themselves, and they did; the Garda Accounting Officer did agree a revised statement and did re-sign that statement on 16 September. That is the date that should have been in the documentation that was presented to us. I am in an unusual position but what I said this morning based on that date was in good faith on the basis of the dates and the signatures in front of me in the report. It was not the fault of the Accounting Officer in the Garda Síochána but I now realise that the wrong date is in the document and I regret any disturbance or upset caused as a result. I stress that this was in good faith and on the basis of the document presented to me at that time. We have clarified a matter which is helpful as a result of this morning's debate.