Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It might not be the final one but it is a comment. I do not understand why alerting the organisations that in the business plan the regulator is about to do A, B or C or purchase A, B and C to carry out its function is an issue. Surely there is nothing wrong with people knowing they are going to be inspected. Surely there is nothing wrong with the regulator pre-advising people. It does not stop the regulator from carrying out snap inspections if that is what it wants to do. Why would we be unwilling or afraid to inform or advise those who are to be overseen by the IAA that it is moving in a particular direction? I do not see how that is a bad idea. If it was the commercial side, that would be a different issue but this is not the commercial side; this is the regulatory side. I just do not see a problem with knowing in advance. To take an example from my previous career, schools are notified in advance that a whole-school inspection is happening so they can prepare for it and make sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed. By introducing that system we have improved schools all over the country. What would be wrong with people knowing they were about to be inspected by the IAA or that the authority was bringing in expertise or specific equipment or whatever? I cannot accept that at all.