Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 46:

In page 16, line 35, to delete “the Minister,” and substitute “the Oireachtas,”.

Maybe we will get this one through. These amendments go into two distinct sets. The first incorporates amendments Nos. 46 and 47 and they are similar to those on which I have spoken previously in respect of replacing "the Minister" with the "Oireachtas". I will not repeat myself again. The second set incorporates amendments Nos. 50 and 51 in which I have included subsidiaries of children's health Ireland. I have included the amendments to ensure that subsidiaries of children's health Ireland are also subject to oversight by the Dáil's Committee of Public Accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General. We have the case too often where there is no public accountability by subsidiaries of State companies or State organisations. I am sure we have all seen situations involving the Committee of Public Accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General where a CEO or other representatives state they cannot answer questions regarding a subsidiary as the Committee of Public Accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General have no oversight or responsibility for that subsidiary. It feels sometimes like the proverbial two fingers are being given to the Oireachtas. We saw that most recently with Irish Water where the Comptroller and Auditor General is prohibited under legislation from auditing the accounts of Irish Water or its subsidiaries. The Committee of Public Accounts is similarly formally precluded under its terms of reference from examining issues in respect of those accounts.These amendments are sensible and practical. They will ensure transparency when it comes to public moneys and they will guarantee public trust.