Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Norris. We have a situation in which the Comptroller and Auditor General checks only the finances. He checks whether all income and expenditure has been properly accounted for but we have nobody checking whether agencies are fit for purpose and holding them accountable. There is no way any Minister from any party would be able to say hand on heart that he or she was happy that everything was being done properly. Even in a small business one cannot do that. One is dependent on staff. We need some sort of an oversight commission. Finally, in 2010 the Government introduced a National Oversight and Audit Commission to oversee local government. That started bringing best practice into local government. Between 2010 and 2016, we have saved €511 million while also increasing efficiency. We have to step up to the mark. If we do what we always did - God forbid - we are going to get what we always got.