Before we commence our business of the meeting, I draw the attention of members and everybody present to the fact that it is Mr. John Purcell's last meeting with us. We will be sad to see him go but I am sure he will go for a long and well-earned rest. Has Mr. Purcell been in office for 14 years?
Business of Committee.
Mr. John Purcell
Yes, almost 14 years.
When he announced his retirement, I was asked for a comment as Chairman. I knew Mr. Purcell way back in his infancy as Comptroller and Auditor General in my days as a member. My comments were that he is fair, forensic and apolitical. I have had no reason to change my opinion of Mr. Purcell in recent months since I became Chairman. He has been most helpful to and supportive of this committee and has jealously guarded his independence as an office holder. In light of his co-operation with this committee and its members, it was a pleasure to work with the man. I wish him a long and happy retirement with his family. We will mark his retirement in an appropriate way in a few weeks' time.
As Vice Chairman of the committee, I echo what was said by the Chairman. I had the opportunity to say a few words at Mr. Purcell's leaving reception with his own staff the other evening. I totally agree with the Chairman's comments. This is my first time being a member of the Committee of Public Accounts. One of the great things about it is that from a political point of view, we are all on the one side. Mr. Purcell has certainly taken a neutral view. He has steered us in the right direction in our deliberations. His briefings are very insightful and he will be a hard act to follow. I thank him for what he has done and wish him well in the future.
I also wish to be associated with those remarks. There is no question that the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has been held in extremely high esteem for many years, mainly because of the holder of that office. The personal qualities he brought to bear on the office has led to a situation where not many other institutions in the State can be regarded as being inscrutable, as the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is regarded. I thank Mr. Purcell for all the effort he put into the job. He has done an extraordinary job and has been very highly regarded on all sides of the House and within society generally. On a personal level, he has been extremely helpful to us all as members of this committee. He has dealt with the very important business in hand in a "no nonsense" way and without using jargon. One of his strengths is that he has been a very straightforward and straight dealing individual. I thank him for his efforts and wish him a long life, health, happiness and full retirement.
I did not get a chance to attend the function held the other evening as I had to attend a meeting. I, too, on my behalf and on behalf of the Labour Party pay a warm tribute to Mr. Purcell. As Comptroller and Auditor General he has been an outstanding public servant and a role model for all public servants who undertake work on behalf of the State.
I have been a member of the Committee of Public Accounts during two Dáil terms and as such have gained a little insight into the high quality service provided by Mr. Purcell in protecting the taxpayers' money and the expenditure of the State. I wish Mr. Purcell and his family well in his retirement as Comptroller and Auditor General. I believe we will have an opportunity next week or the week after to discuss in the Dáil the role of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Committee of Public Accounts with the appointment of the new Comptroller and Auditor General.
Mr. Purcell has set important parameters, in particular in respect of the DIRT Inquiry and other initiatives he has taken throughout his tenure in office. I wish him well in the future. He has done a brilliant job for Ireland.
On behalf of the Fine Gael Party, I wish to be associated with the remarks made by other members. I thank Mr. Purcell for his helpfulness and fairness. I have had the pleasure of serving on the Committee of Public Accounts during three Dáil terms one of which I believe was prior to Mr. Purcell's appointment as Comptroller and Auditor General.
Mr. Purcell can rest assured that everyone will express their appreciation of the work done by him. I wish him every success in the future.
I wish to be associated with the tributes paid to Mr. Purcell and specifically to state that oftentimes when we think of an auditor we are concerned about daunting figures and so on. However, the reports and chapters introduced by him at this committee addressed the issues rather than figures involved. I am sure that when Mr. Purcell reflects on his time as Comptroller and Auditor General he will realise many of the issues highlighted by him have resulted in real change, something in which he should take a degree of pleasure.
At the function to mark Mr. Purcell's retirement the other evening, I met accounting officers who commented on the reports and findings of many of the reports and pointed out how they have changed to accommodate new methods. Mr. Purcell has played a huge role in this regard. I thank Mr. Purcell for his support. He had a way of making us think we were doing things our way but, he knew how to get around us. Mr. Purcell was helpful to me at all times in terms of support and providing background information on issues. I wish him and his family well in his retirement.
I wish Mr. Purcell well and thank him for his support during recent months. I am a new member of this committee. I thank him for his patience when some of the new members were trying to get to grips with the workings of the committee. He has been always a well respected man who is known to be fair in his dealings in all matters. I thank him for his work on this committee and wish him well in the future.
I am a new member of this committee and though I do not know Mr. Purcell well I wish him well in the future. I come from a background of auditing and was glad to get out of it. Fair credit is due to Mr. Purcell for sticking with it during his working career to date. Like other speakers, I too have found Mr. Purcell to be very fair. Some of his work to date has been in Limerick where he has left his mark.
I wish to be associated with the tributes to Mr. Purcell. Being a chartered accountant and former auditor, I have great empathy with Mr. Purcell in respect of the work he has done. I genuinely appreciate everything he has done since I became a Member of this committee. He has been precise and accurate without fear or favour which is the only way one can do a job. I am grateful for that.
I also take this opportunity to highlight that much of what he did resulted in significant reforms in the public service. Many of the chapters and value for money reports produced by him have had knock-on effects and made Ministers and accounting officers sit up and take another look at their departments. Mr. Purcell was the impetus for much of this. I wish him well in his retirement.
There should always be a healthy edge between Mr. Purcell's office and accounting officers. I would not be happy to be here today if I thought they were all good buddies. We all have work to do in our capacity as members of the Committee of Public Accounts. We are assisted in knowing the Comptroller and Auditor General maintains his or her independence in this regard. This constitutional role has been enhanced by Mr. Purcell's performance for many years.
Members' comments are an appropriate tribute to Mr. Purcell and the work he did for many years. It has been a pleasure working with him professionally and meeting him socially. While Mr. Purcell takes his job seriously he does not project himself as a serious person. He is a friendly man. It has been a pleasure working with him during my short time as Chairman of this committee.
Mr. John Purcell
I thank the Chairman and members for their comments. I will not delay the proceedings as there is important business to be dealt with.
The interaction between the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Committee of Public Accounts is vital to our system of public auditing and public accountability. In addition, that interaction must be healthy. As Deputy Fleming stated, not only must there be a healthy tension between the Comptroller and Auditor General and accounting officers but it is important there is a healthy tension between the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Committee of Public Accounts. It is important we are up to our game.
I thank Members for their kind remarks. To reiterate what I stated at the function the other evening, the office will continue. It is more about the people in the office and those who day after day, week after week and month after month do the job regardless of who is Comptroller and Auditor General. It has been a genuine privilege to have had the opportunity to lead that organisation.
I do not know what I will do with myself on Thursdays. I hope the withdrawal effects are not too severe and that I will not end up sidling in to the Gallery.
I am sure if Mr. Purcell does come in he will be glad he does not have to deal with what is happening. I thank Mr. Purcell for his work.
I apologise to our visitors for the delay in opening proceedings. It was appropriate we paid tribute in public to Mr. Purcell, a great public servant.
Mr. John Purcell (An tArd Reachtaire Cúntas agus Ciste) called and examined.