On a point of order, what procedures did you use, Chairman, for approving the Supplementary Estimate? Why can we not discuss each subhead separately?
Business of Select Committee.
We followed the order referred to on the Order Paper. It is up to each member to decide whether he or she wants to discuss them individually.
There should be a possibility of approving each subhead one by one. The idea of introducing committee consideration of Estimates was to allow an examination of each subhead rather than a series of monologues.
It is only a matter of considering the Supplementary Estimate, not of going through it in detail.
On the day Jim Mitchell is being buried it is a pity we are not taking account of some of the things he said about accountability for expenditure and painstakingly examining the allocation of money before it is spent to decide whether it should be spent. There is not much point having an exhaustive examination by the Committee of Public Accounts after the event on whether some of the money has been spent.
Members asked questions.
They did not ask questions subhead by subhead.
Questions were asked. This was circulated beforehand. It is up to members to go through it and ask relevant questions.
I am not criticising you, Chairman, or the committee.
I know that.
As politicians, we should, as Deputy Shortall said, examine each subhead one by one and say we agree with it or ask for it to be reduced or if it represents value for money. We should do this before we spend the money. This criticism applies to all Estimates at all committees. It is not directed at you, Chairman. However, it is a point worth making and considering. I do not know if the committee should look at the subheads one by one. That is a matter for it to decide.
I accept the Deputy's point, which is a good one.
During my contribution I asked the Minister for a breakdown of the €26 million savings in the public transport sector. Perhaps he could provide me with that detail in the next couple of days.
The select committee adjourned at 4.10 p.m. sine die.