John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I join with the Minister is supporting this motion and the appointment of Mr. Seamus McCarthy as the new Comptroller and Auditor General. The Minister has outlined the various qualifications which Mr. McCarthy holds, with whom since the retirement of Mr. John Buckley I have, as Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, worked and found to be professional, diligent and effective. I wish him well in terms of his work as Comptroller and Auditor General and look forward to working with him and members of the committee in the course of this term.

I take this opportunity to pay tribute to former Comptrollers and Auditors General, Mr. John Purcell, whom I worked with as a member of the Committee of Public Accounts in 2007, at which time the Minister was Chairman of that committee and Mr. John Buckley, both of whom did their job in an exceptional manner without fear or favour. They did the State a great deal of service in terms of ensuring value for money, which we need to ensure now more than ever in terms of the smooth running of this country, greater efficiencies and savings to the taxpayer. Being a watchdog on behalf of the taxpayer is a central role for Committee of Public Accounts members.

In the course of his speech, the Minister referred to 1993 and the value for money addition made to the work of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Bill 2012 which I recently introduced in this House was defeated. I believe that Bill contained some very good suggestions in terms of how we might improve the power and resources of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Committee of Public Accounts. In light of the review now being undertaken, which I understand will be completed by end June, I ask that the Minister consider incorporating into that review some consideration of the views and opinions set out in that Bill, which I believe would enhance the work of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Committee of Public Accounts.

It is in my opinion shocking and worrying that €5 billion of taxpayers' money, which goes through the local government spend throughout this country, is not audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The recent discovery in respect of payments at Tallaght Hospital is also shocking. Some €2.6 billion of taxpayers' money goes to the voluntary sector. While we can inspect and audit the books of St. James's Hospital and bring the relevant people in this regard before the Committee of Public Accounts, we cannot do so in regard to Tallaght Hospital. In my opinion, the reforms that are necessary in this area are achievable. Were the Minister and Government to put their minds to it, I have no doubt the Local Government Audit Service and Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General could be amalgamated, resulting in our having one body responsible for the complete audit of every cent of taxpayers' money spent in this country.

As regards the review, which is due to be completed by 30 June, I am disappointed that the Committee of Public Accounts has not been consulted or engaged with in terms of the reform which it sees as necessary. We see at first-hand where the spend is taking place, where the anomalies arise and where the taxpayer is simply not getting value for money. I believe that any country interested in reform will start with the Committee of Public Accounts and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, which has been since the 1800s responsible for scrutiny of Government spending. We need the review brought to a conclusion and to bring into sharp focus the need for reform of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Committee of Public Accounts. I have one last point, which I have raised with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, and anybody possible, in regard to Government and its attitude towards the Committee of Public Accounts. It has to do with resources. I know this is a tight time and will be so for some while.

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