Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

The Comptroller and Auditor General's report has been published. Every year it reveals classic examples of squandermania within Departments. I compliment the Comptroller and Auditor General, as the public watchdog, on exposing such excesses in spending. For example, he highlighted in this report the scandal of €50 million spent on electronic voting. There will be an associated annual cost over time to store the electronic voting machines in various locations around the country.

The comptroller highlighted what has happened with regard to the penalty points system. It would appear from reading his report that one might do better to drive around with a dirty licence plate on one's car than to have it cleaned regularly as many people were not issued with penalty points because their licence plates could not be recognised. He referred to cameras that did not work and all kinds of deficiencies, for example, if one drives a company car there is no mechanism whereby one can be given penalty points. It is a sad comment that the Comptroller and Auditor General must point out deficiencies in legislation passed in this House, and of its implementation. As a previous Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts I wonder whether in situations where squandermania is discovered, for which officials and various Ministers are ultimately responsible, any appropriate action is taken subsequently within the relevant Departments. I do not think so.

Today we are celebrating the appointment of new Ministers and several existing Ministers will change their positions or be moved aside; this publication may provide a sad commentary on the efficiency of those Ministers in their responsibilities to date.