Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a 50% increase in subhead A5, support for Irish emigrant services. On the question of accountability, we have an independent audit system that assesses how we spend money. The Secretary General has to submit audited accounts to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. There is a robust system for how Departments spend money. While this is a political discussion about how we prioritise spending which is a different issue, I would not like the suggestion the Department was spending money without an independent audit and assessment to go unchecked.