Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

This matter was raised by the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts. As the Minister for Finance was written to, he has restated the independence of the Comptroller and Auditor General. That is not in question. Arising from matters that were brought to my attention and discussions with the chairman and chief executive of FÁS, I asked the Comptroller and Auditor General to investigate issues pertaining to the audit committee. The Comptroller and Auditor General indicated that his preferred option was to await the full outcome of the Committee of Public Accounts investigation. I agreed to both issues on the basis that first, I asked rather than directed the Comptroller and Auditor General to proceed and, second, I did not have the financial wherewithal of €100,000 or €150,000 to appoint a consultant who could pursue the matter on my behalf.

I have now discovered that due to other work, the Committee of Public Accounts is encountering difficulties in bringing matters to a conclusion. Given the urgency of the matter, I have again requested the Comptroller and Auditor General to expedite his examination on my behalf. These are the full facts of the matter.

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