David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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With respect, the proposal came from the Chairman. We have a great deal to do but let us not rush things either. We have a responsibility to ask questions before we proceed to bring people in, especially if an Accounting Officer has raised concerns himself and written to us. I am, therefore, asking the Comptroller and Auditor General about the work his office has done. Second, my understanding is that Mr. Fraser is not an accountable officer, but is rather an Accounting Officer for the purposes of those accounts, which is a different thing. I ask Mr. McCarthy to outline what that distinction is. I have no difficult with us doing it. We should do it quickly if it is the first chapter. However, I do not want us to waste our time if Mr. Fraser is going to come in and say he cannot answer any of the questions we ask. We have a responsibility to the Committee of Public Accounts to get answers to these questions before we proceed. My questions were to the Comptroller and Auditor General.