Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was the Department's audit committee that recommended the appointment of a chief risk officer and a head of finance. The Minister of State said he hoped the Minister would look at the appointment of a chief financial officer. However, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade told us several months ago that this appointment process had already been set in train and that the necessary approval had been received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Minister of State has not given us the impression that there is urgency attached to the appointment of a chief financial officer. It is a matter which should be dealt with as such.

At what stage is the proposed appointment of the chief risk officer, as recommended by the Department's audit committee? As Deputy Thomas P. Broughan said, there is a great need to assure the public that continues to be very generous, despite the many pressures on it, in its support of overseas development aid. It is important the message is sent that the investment of the taxpayer in overseas development programmes has been successful. We have heard of the great improvements the programmes have made to primary education and health facilities, etc. We all recognise much more needs to be done, but we need the message to be sent to the public that every cent is being put to good use and reaching the intended beneficiaries.

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