Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I share Deputy Deasy's view that this should be dealt with expeditiously. As I mentioned in my formal reply, we disburse well over €100 million to non-governmental organisations, which carry out excellent work on the ground. However, the bottom line is that the Minister and the Secretary General of the Department are accountable for every single euro of Irish taxpayers' money that is spent. The obligations on all NGOs are very clear: if they are corporate entities, they must provide audited accounts and supporting financial statements tracing out exactly where every euro of taxpayers' money is spent. That is a requirement on all such organisations.

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