Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 11 July 2019

Public Accounts Committee

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018

9:00 am

Photo of Alan FarrellAlan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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That is not surprising, I suppose. I compliment the Houses of the Oireachtas on the work that it has done in the establishment of the Parliamentary Budget Office, PBO, and the legal services that have been provided. It is important to note that. There was a time in 2011 when I started drafting a Bill. It was only through the assistance from the Library and Research Service, which I believe was beyond the normal scope, that I was able to put a Bill together. That was very strange. I was brand new to the building and I thought it was very odd that there was no direct support. I had to go to the Law Library to get additional assistance. The situation is different now, which should be noted. I compliment Mr. Finnegan on it, particularly the Parliamentary Budget Office and the periodic reports it issues, because they are very helpful. Again, without the normal opportunity to raise these things, I use this opportunity to do so. As Mr. Finnegan has been given a clear audit and nothing of major significance jumped out at me from the pages, I am very pleased with the Comptroller and Auditor General's report and thank Mr. Finnegan for appearing this morning.