Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Waters and other officials from his Department for coming here today. He is subject to quick-fire questioning. The main focus of my questions today is on direct provision, which is the main item on the committee's agenda today. Deputy Farrell touched on some issues earlier.

I appreciate where Mr. Waters is coming from when he said the Department is not a back-seat driver. From the perspective of the Committee of Public Accounts and the public in general I will use the analogy that they do not want to see the Department as the driver of an uninsured vehicle. When one thinks of it in those terms it is quite a strong metaphor and that is the reason the Committee of Public Accounts is taking this line of questioning today, in particular bearing in mind last week.