I move:
That Dáil Éireann nominate Seán G. Mac Gearailt for appointment by the President to be the Comptroller and Auditor General.
The former Taoiseach's notification to you, sir, of the retirement, with effect from the 15th January last, of the Comptroller and Auditor General explains the necessity for this motion. I am moving the motion today because it is vital that the important constitutional Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General should not remain vacant for longer than is necessary.
It is essential also that the post be filled soon so that the function of granting credit to the Department of Finance for the Exchequer accounts under section 13 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1866, can be discharged. I understand that some £35 million of the supply granted by the Dáil for the financial year ending 31st March next, remains to be authorised in this way by the Comptroller and Auditor General when he is appointed.
Before mentioning Mr. Mac Gearailt's qualifications I am sure Members of the Dáil would wish that I should express on their behalf our appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. Suttle, the former Comptroller and Auditor General, who has retired after a lifetime of service to the State to take up an appointment on the audit board of the Council of the EEC. Mr. Suttle held the important constitutional office of the Comptroller and Auditor General from 1964 until his retirement. We extend to him our best wishes on his new appointment.
As Deputies are aware, the Constitution provides that the Comptroller and Auditor General shall be appointed by the President on the nomination of Dáil Éireann. The fact that there is provision in the Constitution for the appointment is sufficient evidence of its importance in our administrative machinery. Deputies will be aware that on the Comptroller and Auditor General is placed the onerous duty of controlling the disbursement of public moneys and ensuring that these moneys are spent in accordance with the wishes of this House. The post is one which requires a high standard of ability, integrity and tact. Members of the House who have served on the Committee of Public Accounts will have a full appreciation of the responsibilities of the Offices. They will appreciate also that the satisfactory performance of the duties of the Comptroller and Auditor General, such as that given by Mr. Suttle and his predecessors, requires a deep understanding and thorough knowledge of the functioning of Parliament and of the work of the accounting officers in the various Departments as well as of the principles that govern the control of the public purse.
I have been advised by the former Taoiseach that he and his colleagues in the outgoing Government gave this matter full consideration before deciding to recommend the nomination of Mr. Mac Gearailt, who is the present Secretary and Director of Audit in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, to succeed Mr. Suttle. I am happy to endorse that recommendation.
I had experience of the Mr. Mac Gearailt during my period on the Committee of Public Accounts. For the past two years he has served in the second highest post in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. I think Deputies will be satisfied that Mr. Mac Gearailt will prove to be a worthy Comptroller and Auditor General. Accordingly, I recommend his nomination to the Dáil.