Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and our guests for coming in. I have a couple of questions, with the first arising from comments made in a line of questioning from a previous meeting. It concerns the previously voted and audited budget of An Garda Síochána and the Department, going back to the transfer of moneys outside the control of An Garda Síochána. Mr. Kelly identified these as "compromising" the accounts in terms of not being able to stand over them. Ms Barry made a comment earlier that it simply was not possible to look back, or words to that effect. I would have a different view.

My question is for Mr. McCarthy. Does something like this not warrant a special investigation of the Vote of An Garda Síochána going back to where it appears money was being used for all sorts of different purposes outside the control of both An Garda Síochána, the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Department? This is where it is to be determined what the moneys were being used for and by whom. This may include other agencies that are not present now. Is it not appropriate that the Comptroller and Auditor General would take a considered view as to whether such an investigation should take place of a certain number of years, depending on the information coming from Mr. Kelly's audit?