Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at a recent meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts it was indicated that the committee may have been misled by the Irish Red Cross; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15469/12]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 526: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on a suggestion made at a recent meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts that his Department should engage an independent third party to conduct an independent investigation into conflicting evidence presented to the committee in regard to the Irish Red Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15525/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 523 and 526 together.

I welcome the fact that the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) recently examined the Chapter on Financial Control in the Irish Red Cross Society that was contained in the Comptroller and Auditor General's recent Report. It is clear that the PAC dealt in some considerable depth with a wide range of issues relating to weak financial controls in the past and allegations of poor corporate governance.

As the Deputy is aware, the PAC is completely independent in its operations. Any issues that arise from evidence given to the Committee by third parties is a matter for the Committee itself in the first instance. It would not be appropriate for me to attempt to influence the Committee in the performance of its work.