Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are joined from the Comptroller and Auditor General’s office by Mr. Séamus McCarthy as permanent witness to the committee and he is accompanied today Ms Patricia Devlin, senior auditor. Apologies have been received from Deputy Marc MacSharry.

Are the minutes of the meeting of 18 January agreed? Agreed. Are there any matters arising? One issue arises regarding the periodic report we published this week, namely, our recommendation that the implications of the review to reopen Garda stations be considered in the context of the 2018 Estimates process. I propose that we write to the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality forwarding a copy of the report and drawing its attention to the recommendation for its consideration as part of the Estimates process for the Department of Justice and Equality. I expect the Estimates will be discussed at the joint committee next month. Is that agreed? Agreed. While we do not generally submit our reports to other committees, the report included a specific recommendation relevant to the joint committee. The report has also been circulated to all the relevant bodies and parent Departments.

There are three categories of correspondence. The first is briefing documents and opening statements. Nos. 1030 and 1039 are a briefing and opening statement, respectively, from Mr John O'Sullivan, chief executive and commissioner of the Valuation Office for today’s meeting. Is it agreed that we note and publish them? Agreed.

The second category is correspondence from Accounting Officers or Ministers or both and follow-up to committee meetings and other items for publishing. No. 986, which was held over from last week, is from the Health Service Executive. It provides a substantial amount of information related to the HSE-commissioned Deloitte report on the cost of care incurred by the service provider in the Grace case. Is it agreed to note the correspondence? Agreed. Do we need to forward it to the commission?