Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the post-troika era as the Government plans a reshuffle and the programme for the remainder of its term of office, I ask that we debate in the House the role of the Comptroller and Auditor General. It is not just that he should investigate financial mishaps after they happen, he also has a role as a national auditor. I hope the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, or the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, a former Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, will come to the House to debate how best we might cost projects and obtain measures and benefits. We have dropped the regulatory impact assessments that used to accompany the explanatory memorandums of Bills and must keep an eye on expenditure matters.

I welcome the successful talks which took place in London yesterday between the Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, and Sinn Féin. It raises the question for the House of how we can contribute to the peace process. We on this side have asked that the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland be invited to attend, but that has not happened. We had a very successful visit by the Orange Order. I hope next week will see a peaceful marching season. Should we reopen the invitation to the Orange Order?

I pay tribute to Deputy Ruairí Quinn who yesterday announced his retirement as Minister for Education and Skills. He has had a remarkable career in the Oireachtas for over 40 years. Committed, hard-working and a deep thinker, he was a very good friend of this House. In fact, his was one of the leading constituencies in supporting the retention of the House in the referendum held last October. Are these events connected? I think they are. More recently, we remarked on the success of SUSI in what transpires was his farewell address to the House last Tuesday. The scheme of grants for students in higher education had a very rocky launch last year, but this year only ten complaints are being investigated by the Ombudsman. Given that 160,000 persons are eligible, it is a huge improvement. The Minister was also associated with the improvements in mathematics papers, particularly in the leaving certificate examination. There were no disputes in that context this year after a rather frantic session which had left hundreds of thousands of young people better off.

The Minister steps down to great accolades for his performance in many years of public service to this country.