David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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We have come at this in the first place because there is an obvious problem. If every second or third set of accounts has a note that there is non-compliance, it means there is a problem. When we have looked at this we have found that the problems are twofold. In some cases it is bad management and a flagrant disregard of the rules. This is one element of it. There are also problems with the system being too rigid and not flexible enough for smaller organisations also. This is where our focus should be. The thematic approach advocated, where it is broken down into the four or five or six themes and reasons why there are failures, could tell us where lots of the problems are. Initially we were hitting all the organisations over the head to say "Why are you not complying?". The system obviously is not working and I believe we need to be looking at that. It cannot be working if every second or third organisation and big Department comes back time and again with non-compliance. Some of it is bad management and we cannot let them off the hook on that one. Some of it is just that they are not complying with fair rules. If there is no level playing field, however, or if it is too rigid, too complex or too difficult - or whatever the problems might be in some areas - then we have a responsibility to find that out.