I understand that Deputy P. Hogan, Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, wishes to make a statement and I will allow him to do so.
Committee on Finance. - Committee of Public Accounts: Chairman's Statement.
A Cheann Comhairle, Arising from statements made in the Dáil yesterday the Committee of Public Accounts have asked me, with your indulgence to make the following statement:—
The Dáil in referring to the Committee the examination of certain expenditure instructed the Committee to furnish a separate report on it as soon as possible.
In order to comply with this instruction the Committee decided to proceed with the examination of witnesses with all expedition. In this connection, it was brought to their attention that the Official Reporting Staff available was not adequate to report concurrent sittings of the Dáil and Seanad and of the Committee. In the circumstances the Committee conveyed to the House authorities their wish that arrangements should be made to provide adequate staff to enable the Committee to proceed with their business even if necessary by recruitment from outside the country, and that any necessary sanction for this course be sought from the Minister for Finance.
The Committee understand that the Minister gave sanction for the employment of such staff as were necessary and that when it was not found possible to recruit staff in Ireland, arrangements were made at the instance of a London agency.
The Committee have no powers in relation to the engagement or conditions of employment of staff, including matters relating to the Official Secrets Act. These are matters, they understand, for the House authorities and for the Minister for Finance. The concern of the Committee is that they should be enabled to comply with the instructions of Dáil Éireann.
Is there no comment allowed on that?
No, there can be no debate on that at this stage.
That is rather a pity. However, I will take the opportunity later on to comment on the matter on the appropriate occasion.
I am sure the Deputy will get a suitable opportunity.
Nobody is commenting on the fact that it is because the Seanad is sitting along with the other two bodies——
(Interruptions.)
Suffice it to say that these questions were put down in all good faith and if they should not have been discussed that was a matter for the Ceann Comhairle.
Of course they should be discussed in the Dáil.
Possibly if the Minister for Finance had given us a little more information yesterday the supplementary questions would not have been so long.
Deputies were entitled to put down those questions.