Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These amendments will bring the authority within the scope of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993. In that context, they have been cleared with the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The effect of the amendments is that, in practice, the authority will be subject to the same requirements as a Department in terms of the preparation of and accountability for its appropriation account.

Amendments Nos. 15 and 17 delete proposed section 62R and subsections (2) and (3) of proposed section 62S. Parliamentary Counsel has confirmed that the text being deleted is unnecessary, as it essentially restates provisions found in sections 3 and 19 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993. The provisions of that Act will apply directly to the authority on foot of amendment No. 23 and the chief executive of the authority will account to the Committee of Public Accounts in respect of the finances of the authority.

Amendments Nos. 16 and 18 are technical in nature and renumber proposed sections 62S and 62T as 62R and 62S, respectively.