Clerk to the Committee:

I was drawing attention to something. The note is broken into three areas. First, what is the narrow interpretation of Standing Order 163 on appropriation accounts, the accounts of bodies audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and value for money reports? Second, we examined our remit to reach down into bodies that we have invited to attend meetings on public expenditure grounds, for example, the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, which has attended, and other sections 38 and 39 bodies. We have done that in the content of an examination of the funds provided to them by the HSE. We have now sought to compel certain evidence. This will go through a process and will form one of the CPP's considerations.

The note continued. Obviously, some bodies fall outside the remit of the Committee of Public Accounts, those being, Schedule 2 bodies. We have discussed one, namely, the Central Bank of Ireland. The Dáil has stated that, as these are Schedule 2 bodies, they are outside the committee's remit.

I wanted to tease out a number of issues. The Chairman in particular has raised with me issues like school transport. We will consider that matter next week with the Department of Education and Skills. The Accounting Officer is accountable for the €152 million provided to Bus Éireann, which subcontracts. It is possible to invite Bus Éireann officials to the committee as part of that examination. It makes no sense to stop at the Department if one wants a thorough examination of the matter.

Deputy Collins raised the issue of Leader companies. If one is examining an Accounting Officer and there is an issue with a funded body, one may want to invite the company to appear before the committee. It is in this context that we are trying to determine the committee's remit.