Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 7, line 6, after "Commission." to insert the following:

"The Secretary General and Head of Finance may attend meetings though not as members of the committee".

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Yesterday, there was a long and convoluted discussion on matters related to the establishment of the audit committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. The Minister and I soldiered together as members of the commission. My concerns were very fair and I discussed them last night with members of the Committee of Public Accounts and with senior members of the commission. I was rather concerned and I took the view we were moving away from what I consider to be best practice. I have examined all the amendments under discussion and I welcome the response from the Minister. I recognise the Government has approached me on this matter and has conceded on at least two of the most significant points which concerned me and I will refer to these presently. However, in order to dispatch the business of the House it is my intention not to press the amendment.