Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I really think it is time the Government looked at this collectively rather than waiting for individual Ministers. The Minister gave the usual reason of commercial operations and private auditors, but there seems to be an inconsistent approach to when public oversight is used. Just across the road, more than 50% of Trinity College's revenue is not from the State, yet every year the books are analysed with full transparency by the State auditor. Why is it the same standard and expectations are not extended to all organisations? Companies that are almost 100% owned by the State, such as ESB and Bord na Móna, cannot be audited by the State. Iarnród Éireann does not compete in a private market and yet avoids State audit. If an organisation, commercial or not, is in receipt of large sums of public money, the Comptroller and Auditor General should be able to inspect it for audit. This issue has been raised for more than 30 years now and still has not been resolved. It is a ridiculous situation. Will the Minister review the issue in light of recent scandals and will he bring real public oversight to public money and State investment?

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