David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is now stating there will not be any costs. I hope he will not be back in one, three or six months speaking about a cost and stating there will be a liability. In any event, I have dealt with the issue.

There is a real issue with regard to the ability of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight to do its job properly and fairly. I have given a number of examples where information will need to be given to allow us to scrutinise proper spending of public money. I appeal to the Minister because a number of Members in the House sit on the committee and we want it to work. We want to play a constructive part in holding to account the Government, which is our role and job, but we can only do so if we are given the information necessary for us to hold Ministers to account properly. Some on the committee fear that, until now, this has not happened and we are not being given the respect we deserve or the tools we need to do the job asked of us.

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