Seanad debates

Thursday, 17 October 2002

Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage.

 

I welcome the fact that this body will be answerable to the Comptroller and Auditor General. I understand that, like other bodies of that sort, it will be subject to scrutiny. I am not saying it was not subject to scrutiny in the past – it was. In the Comptroller and Auditor General's report of 2000 he referred to many inadequacies and expressed certain concerns about the operation of DMDL, as we know it. He was concerned that the project was going on without a legislative base. Now DMDL, in its own right and as a separate entity, will be answerable directly to the Comptroller and Auditor General. Therefore, its performance may be analysed. This is preferable to its being taken as an adjunct to the Department of the Taoiseach or the Department of Public Enterprise in his report. I also welcome the fact that many of the State organisations, including the Minister's Department, will have an overarching role as a committee. It will be up to that committee to monitor the success and effectiveness of this operation.

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