Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

There will be accountability to the dormant accounts board, in terms of its role under the proposed Act, and to the Oireachtas directly.

Listening to the debate in recent days, I wondered about the underlying objection of the media and some Opposition politicians to these changes. All of us who work in the State system, as employees or elected representatives, are subject to a stringent system of checks and balances in the distribution of money. These have been added to considerably in recent years. Ministers are also answerable on a week by week basis to the House. Departmental expenditure is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and is also subject to scrutiny by the Committee of Public Accounts. In this case, as a further check, the dormant accounts board will also analyse spending under the criteria mentioned above.

I find it difficult to understand some of the concerns being raised. This fund is designed to target people who are socially or educationally disadvantaged.