Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 3, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:“(ahc) to the Committee on Public Accounts,”,”.

In the spirit the Minister has just described, which is unanimous throughout the House in the context of the Bill, would it be of use - as suggested in amendment No. 1 - to give the Governor of the Central Bank the power to supply information, should he so wish, not only to special inquiries but also to the Committee of Public Accounts? The latter is a permanent committee and has its own support apparatus in place, whereas it took some time to establish the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis. The Committee of Public Accounts has reported on the activities of the Central Bank in the past. In 2012 it prepared 276 questions for the Central Bank regarding events relating to the banking crisis. As the Minister is a former Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, I am of the view he is best placed to judge whether this amendment accomplishes anything in terms of openness with regard to banking matters and the Oireachtas.