Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State should tell us how he believes this measure could not be used by the chairperson or chief executive of the agency to avoid coming before an Oireachtas committee on issues in respect of which they do not wish to be accountable at a particular time. The Minister has seen what is going on between the Committee of Public Accounts and individuals who were at one stage in the leadership of the Rehab organisation as well as the associated issues relating to people who were part of organisations in receipt of significant State funding. I realise it is not the same thing but nevertheless these people should be accountable. Instead, up to now they have found ways to avoid being asked the necessary questions on behalf of the taxpayer.

Does the Minister of State believe for one minute that such a situation could not arise given the great width of the brief of the National Treasury Management Agency? The agency touches vast areas of economic life as well as the numerous commercial private interests that it could be involved with. This is a recipe for escaping accountability or potentially escaping accountability on crucial issues. The Government should withdraw it now.

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