Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The witnesses do not have any choice but to except that. When I see that sentence or hear about reassurance it does not help me in any way because what really jumps out from all of the reports was the confirmation in the Secretary General's opening statement that Dr. Thorn found that governance procedures were adequate and that adequate arrangements were in place. That is deeply troubling. Much of the opening statements from the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board and the Department are about the recent changes. While these are very welcome, they were in place and this happened. I have never seen this in the almost two and a half years I have been a member of the committee. Page 9 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's supplementary report sets out key audit concerns. I will not read them out but I counted 11. It refers to incomplete documentation, documentation being held off site, inadequate information being provided to the audit team when it asked questions, including when it returned with further questions. Before I ask my questions, the Comptroller and Auditor General said this is one of four special reports in the past 20 years.