Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A draft work programme discussion document including proposals has been circulated to members. It sets out the proposed meetings for consideration by the committee. We have agreed to defer a meeting with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to a later date. I propose that we instead hold a meeting with Sport Ireland on 15 June, followed on 29 June by a meeting with Sport Ireland's parent Department, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and the Media. Is that agreed?

We have been raising an issue in respect of Irish Water. Its accounts are not audited and the organisation has only fallen under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General and become accountable to the Dáil through this committee since 1 January 2023. That has been long awaited. It was an issue I and other Deputies flagged 12 or more years ago when the organisation was being conceived. There were concerns about the lack of accountability in the legislation and how the organisation was structured. This has been long awaited. There are obviously no accounts to be audited. It will be 2024 before that happens. There are, however, a number of pressing matters regarding Irish Water. I ask that we have its representatives before the committee at the earliest possible opportunity. There are a number of pressing matters that need to be addressed with them. I do not know if people are open to this suggestion but I feel we should have them before the committee in advance of the summer recess. It would probably be too soon to schedule them for 15 June because that only gives a bare four weeks' notice. We try to give our guests the minimum of a month's notice and usually six weeks' notice. I suggest we offer them one of the slots in July. Is that agreed? Is everybody happy with that suggestion?