Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Having looked at the letter from the Secretary General to the Government, I note he signs off using that title, this is something I would take seriously. My big concern is that the campaign is now under way. The nomination process under Article 12 is concluding. It is very clear that candidates are out there robustly campaigning. We can see that even at the front gates outside the Dáil yesterday; at the Ploughing Championships, if anyone was there; and at events before that. I have a huge concern that this could, in effect, compromise that democratic process. I am all for transparency, but we are now so close to a presidential election that if we discuss the Vote here it will really impact on that election. It is very hard to have demarcation lines in terms of the expenditure in Vote 1 that have nothing to do with President Higgins. We have seen how difficult it can get in respect of these inquiries in other countries. I am very concerned that it can get very highly charged in this room. It can be difficult to stay within the lines. This committee has a hierarchy of needs which includes CervicalCheck and our education sector. We have huge important issues to discuss and now we want to look at a Vote which, first, has an audit committee established for it and which has internal audit procedures-----