Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While I welcome this, I question the need for it. I understand that because this is a line spend in the Department, when the Minister comes before the Oireachtas committee on a quarterly basis, as he does anyway, we could investigate and question him about this. I understand that because it is part of the Department's spend, it comes under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General and it also comes under the scrutiny of the Committee of Public Accounts. While it is the Minister's prerogative to put forward an amendment to address amendments moved by two Deputies on this side of the House, I ask him to clarify that this expenditure is under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General and that the Committee of Public Accounts can investigate it if there is any issue. As members of the Oireachtas committee, we have the opportunity to raise it on a quarterly basis with the Minister anyway regardless of this amendment.

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