Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach
Estimates for Public Services
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised)
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source
I think it is entirely a matter for himself. I do not want to get into the space of calling on someone to do anything. I am a Minister and I have legal responsibilities in regard to the functions I have to discharge in the Department. I always believe in being as open and transparent as possible. I, as a Minister, and senior civil servants are accountable. We are accountable to relevant Oireachtas committees. As the Chairman acknowledged, I co-operated fully with the work this committee did and with the Committee of Public Accounts. A year ago, today, I appeared before the committee on this issue and I also provided as much documentation as I had regarding it. What I cannot do is go beyond the legal parameters. It is very much a matter for each individual. I am happy to declare I have made a substantial gifting of salary. I am happy to do so, but I am not going to call on anybody else to declare what their own personal intentions are in that regard.
No comments