Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will now examine the work programme on the screen. We wish to discuss some of the correspondence received in respect of the national children's hospital. We will not have a lengthy discussion on the matter now because there is nothing major. The key issue is that we know who is appearing before the committee later in the meeting.

Next week, we have arranged a session on the Kildare-Wicklow ETB financial statements 2015 and the Comptroller and Auditor General's supplementary report, which was published yesterday. The Comptroller and Auditor General might make a brief observation because he seems quite critical of the board and its functions. Perhaps his criticism applies to all ETBs. There will be restrictions in respect of what the Department can answer on the day because a Garda investigation is ongoing. In the afternoon, we will separately deal with housing as part of the housing meeting. We have invited Mr. Robert Watt, Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to appear before the committee and discuss the control of and procedure for capital projects. We are aware that he was busy in recent days due to the nurses' dispute and we have not yet received an answer. I am aware of invitations from approximately four Oireachtas committees to Mr. Watt to discuss the same issue. He will not appear before all four, however, and I propose that if he agrees to appear before our committee next Thursday, as we have suggested, we postpone the discussion on the Kildare-Wicklow ETB. Otherwise, we will proceed with that report. We will receive confirmation tomorrow.