Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The chief executive officer can make a comment on Government policies at a meeting of any committee except for the Committee of Public Accounts. Section 18 deals with the appearance of the chief executive officer of the National Concert Hall before the Committee of Public Accounts. I draw the attention of Senators to Standing Order 163 of Dáil Éireann, which deals with this committee. In particular, subsection (7) provides that the committee shall refrain from "enquiring into" the merits or objectives of a policy.Our intention with the legislation is to mirror what happens at the PAC. Under the rules of the PAC, were a CEO appears before it, the committee shall refrain in public session from inquiring into or publishing confidential information regarding the activities and plans of a Government Department or office or of a body which is subject to audit, examination or inspection by the Comptroller and Auditor General if so requested either by a member of the Government or the body concerned. It shall also refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a member of the Government or the merits of the objectives of such policies. I am glad to have had the chance to clarify that. What is in the legislation mirrors what is the PAC. The PAC has those rules as set out in Standing Order 163.