Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes. Essentially, this follows on from quite a lengthy inquiry carried out by the previous Committee for Public Accounts. There were two strands to that. The aspect the previous committee looked at was related to the Garda College. The bank accounts and the Cabra account would have been linked to that. The work in this regard was done in a timely and effective way.

Some significant changes happened as a consequence of it and it is one example of the effectiveness of the Committee of Public Accounts.

The second strand related to European funds. I concur with what Deputy Carthy has proposed. My understanding was that GSOC was conducting an investigation into this, but I do not think anything precludes us from inquiring from the commission as to the time it is working to. We debated two items of legislation in the Dáil this week, one of which related to nominating two additional people to the board of GSOC. One issue raised by me and others concerned the timely conclusion of investigations and whether there were adequate resources. The other item of legislation we debated related to European finances and transposing an EU directive. The reason we are doing it as late as we are is we would be fined if we did not do it. There is a bit of an irony that we are discussing this issue today, given that it relates to European funds. We have to pay close attention to it because there are significant consequences for us. My understanding is that is the aspect that GSOC is examining. It may well be we need to ask it what the headline of the issue is. I do not mean the detail, because I understand that an investigation has to happen and GSOC is the competent authority, but we might inquire as to exactly what the investigation is and whether it relates to the two strands of the issue or just one.