Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

With regard to trust and accountability this committee has been here with the issues around Templemore Garda college - which I will not go back on - we have had the Morris tribunal and the €70 million, we have had the Charleton tribunal and the O'Higgins commission of investigation. My three years in the Dáil have been bookended by two reports. It began with the O'Higgins report, which I read in detail, and the Charleton report. There have been serious issues with accountability. These accounts are being considered within this background. There are significant financial risks.

My first question relates to the audit process. We are aware that the internal process prior to this was not really allowed to do its functions, certainly in respect of Templemore and issues emerged. As the Accounting Officer, can Mr. Harris tell the committee that the internal audit function and the audit committee is functioning, is meeting regularly and that everything is in order?