Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree that there is a very serious issue and that we should be very careful. I agree fully that there is a value for money issue, but we should be very careful in talking at this committee about the misuse of money for political purposes. This is an extremely important committee. We are here every Thursday with numerous reports before us that we read, reflect on and question in terms of value for money and holding institutions to account. It is extremely important that we hold them to account. I agree that there is a serious value for money issue when it comes to the strategic communications unit and would like to tease out a little more with the Chairman and the Comptroller and Auditor General how best to proceed to ask questions about the unit which have been raised by many of us in different fora. When I raised the issue, I was told the purpose was to save money. That brings the role of the Committee of Public Accounts into it. How did it save money? As my colleague said, what business case was made and who made it? Has it worked? That is an issue for us. To do it we should have immediate access to the business case made. It should be forwarded to us with all relevant documents. I agree with what has been said, but I would like to tease out what the precedent is. We are looking at something without a report before us which is a new departure for us, although I am sure it has happened before. Let us tease out these issues first and stick with the issue of value for money and to the best way to bring the matter before us before we say who we would bring in. I have no difficulty in looking at that issue, but at this point we should tease out the issues involved and establish what we want to do.