Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To answer the Deputy's question, I am not aware that my Department sought an exemption. If I am wrong in that understanding, I will respond to the Deputy with the information.

There has been no change in the recognition of the constitutional role of the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of the State. It has not been affected.

The Deputy asked my view on the role of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The work he does is of the highest quality. As a former member of the Committee of Public Accounts, I have seen him in action. He will continue with his work on NAMA or any other body with which he has a relationship, but because of a change in the EU directive, in the way I outlined to the Deputy, it was necessary to appoint a further body, in this case, Mazars, to meet our obligations under law in relation to NAMA. There is no conflict in the matter. All of the parties affected co-operated in the change. As I said, if my understanding is wrong in relation to the exemption, I will revert to the Deputy and inform him of such.

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