Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 6 March 2014

Public Accounts Committee

2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance

12:10 pm

Mr. David Cooney:

I very much doubt the arrangements we have are very different from any other foreign service. Even with the arrangements in place, it is not always easy to encourage people to go abroad. There are considerable inconveniences and costs in going abroad, and it is by no means the case that the financial package for going abroad is so attractive that we are inundated with offers from people wishing to do so. I hope I have never shown any disrespect to this committee and that I have not shown disrespect to the Deputy. Nevertheless, what he suggests would involve considerable intrusion into the private affairs of officials working in the Department.