Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Comptroller and Auditor General is fully independent in the exercise of his functions. The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is associated with my Department's Vote for reasons of history. As far as I can recollect, the Minister for Finance has always brought forward its Vote but it is fully independent of us in the exercise of its roles and, as the Deputy will be aware, has carried out reports on matters associated with the Department on a number of occasions. I guess you could make the argument that if it were associated with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, given that the Department also oversees the use of public expenditure, it might be better that its Vote were separate to that Department and more associated with us. Regardless of where the Vote sits, it is an independent body. The Estimates process is never used in any way to impact on its operation. We make every effort to meet the resourcing needs that it brings forward.