Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is funny but twice today we have heard a remark on this issue. The Comptroller and Auditor General said that if it was to happen in the private sector and facts were misrepresented, there would be a resignation. Professor Fitzgerald has highlighted a second issue that because it has occurred in the public sector, it is, therefore, hard to deal with such issues. Two interesting comments have been made. Both witnesses have said in different ways that if this was to happen in the private sector, the auditor would take very definite action. There is a hint in what has been said that if this occurred in the private sector, there would have been action taken, but both witnesses have said that because it occurred in the public service, neither of them is free to act.