John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)

We have received apologies from Deputy Joanna Byrne. You are all welcome. I remind all those in attendance to ensure that their mobile phones are on silent mode or switched off.

Before we proceed, I have a few housekeeping matters to go through, as follows. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that in order to participate in public meetings they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex. Members of the committee attending remotely must do so from within the precincts of Leinster House. This is due to the constitutional requirement that in order to participate in public meetings, members must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit. In this regard, I ask any members participating via Microsoft Teams, prior to making their contributions, to confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

Before we proceed with the rest of the meeting, members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice and ruling of the Cathaoirleach to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members are also reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 226 that the committee shall refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government or the merits of the objectives of such policies. We are joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, who is a permanent witness to the committee.

The public business before us is as follows: accounts and financial statements and correspondence. The first item of business is accounts and financial statements. No sets of accounts and financial statements were laid between 12 and 16 May 2025.

The second item of business is correspondence. As previously agreed, items that were not flagged for discussion for this meeting will be dealt with in accordance with the proposed actions that have been circulated. Decisions taken by the committee in relation to correspondence are recorded in the minutes of the committee’s meetings and published on the committee’s web page. The first category under which items have been flagged is category B, correspondence from accounting officers or Ministers and follow-up from Committee of Public Accounts meetings.

No. R0004B, from Ms Madeline Delaney, chief executive, Charities Regulator, dated 13 November 2024, provides follow-up information requested by the committee at the meeting of 17 October 2024. Unfortunately, Deputy Farrelly had to attend another meeting. He flagged this item for discussion. If it is acceptable to members, I propose to defer it until next week's meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. R0005B, correspondence from Mr. Christy Duffy, chief executive, City of Dublin Education and Training Board, dated 14 November 2024, provides follow-up information requested by the committee in relation to non-compliant procurement. It was the practice of the Committee of Public Accounts of the Thirty-third Dáil to seek an explanation for instances of non-compliant procurement disclosed in the accounts presented to it. This was flagged by me. I am happy to defer it until next week because it ties in with other correspondence that has been flagged by Deputy Farrell and we can have a conversation about them all next week. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. R0008B, from Ms Bernie McNally, Secretary General, Department of Education, dated 15 November 2024, provides follow-up information requested by the committee in relation to non-compliant procurement. This was also flagged by Deputy Farrelly. I propose that we defer it until next week's meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. R0022B, from Mr. Denis Leamy, chief executive, Cork Education and Training Board, dated 19 November 2024, provides follow-up information requested by the committee in relation to non-compliant procurement. This was flagged by me, as Cathaoirleach. I will return to ETBs and a proposed course of action in private session. For now, I propose to note and publish this item. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. R0033B, from Mr. Paul Turner, director of organisation support and development, Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board, dated 22 November 2024, provides follow-up information requested by the committee in relation to non-compliant procurement. Again, I flagged this item. I propose to deal with this in private session and in our work programme. For now, I propose to note and publish this item. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. R0034B, from Mr. Colm O'Reardon, Secretary General, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science dated 22 November 2024, provides follow-up information requested by the committee in relation to late submission of accounts for the Grangegorman Development Agency, the National College of Art and Design and SOLAS. It was the practice of the Committee of Public Accounts of the Thirty-third Dáil to seek an explanation for the late laying of accounts and financial statements of bodies under the committee’s remit. This was flagged by Deputy Farrelly. I propose to defer it to next week's meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. R0036B, from Mr. Brendan Gleeson, Secretary General, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, dated 25 November 2024, provides follow-up information requested by the committee in relation to non-compliant procurement. It is proposed to note and publish this item but to redact personal data related to individuals. Is that agreed? Deputy Geoghegan flagged this item for discussion.