Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I will take that up at a different forum because I believe there is a legitimate reason these public moneys should be scrutinised. I do not think that it is in respect of the general headings that possible concerns arise.

The Comptroller and Auditor General had most of the responsibility for this in the absence of the audit committee. I recognise that the audit committee was put in place on his insistence that it would happen, albeit that it did not function as it should. In terms of his engagement with the Áras, his office would have had full sight all of all of the documentation. Would he have examined matters such as value for money or was the purpose just to reinforce that the audit was clear? Has there been any issue highlighted over the years - whether during this or a previous Presidency - which has caused the Comptroller and Auditor General a difficulty?