Ms Jacqui McCrum:

We are unique in terms of being a Defence Forces. The control of the military by the civilian executive is a fundamental principle of modern western democracies. It allows for those policy and strategic decisions to be the remit of elected officers, subject to democratic control rather than the choice of military leaders. Having an Accounting Officer does not mean that there is not a delegated amount that is appropriate, which is the way we operate. For example, if you were to delegate the full budget to the military leaders, the fact is that it would not be appropriate. That is just not the way it works. So that is why the Accounting Officer is here. There have been various challenges over the years, including during my term, as to why the Chief of Staff is not the Accounting Officer. I have inquired from the current Chief of Staff as to whether he would like to be the Accounting Officer and I do not think there is an appetite there. There is a misnomer that if you are the Accounting Officer, you can just take out the chequebook and spend what you like. That is not the case. You have to do that in line with budgets and interact with your colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform area. That is a myth that needs to be busted.