Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014
348. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the extra powers for the Comptroller and Auditor General as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7476/14]
View answerThe commitment for enhanced powers for the Comptroller and Auditor General is being progressed as part of the wider public service reform agenda. The Programme for Government committed to giving the Comptroller and Auditor General extra powers to carry out value-for-money (VFM) audits of State programmes. A number of meetings have been held between my Department and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General to discuss that proposal in the context of the overall mandate of the Comptroller and Auditor General, including the VFM, financial reporting and inspection mandates.
Any consideration of the role of the Comptroller and Auditor General must take account of initiatives for the management and reporting of public expenditure. This includes, for example, as part of the annual estimates process, the introduction and development of performance budgeting. Relevant developments at EU level include the introduction of common standards for the accounts of public bodies, while, as part of a joint initiative with the Department of Finance, recommendations made in a recent IMF Report on enhanced fiscal transparency are under consideration. Other significant developments include the consultation process currently underway on civil service accountability and performance.
The strengthening of accountability systems requires a clear sighted examination of the forms and structures of accountability that best support the broader agenda of public service reform and its core objective of high quality and more efficient provision of public services. This wider accountability framework includes the work of the Comptroller and Auditor General in terms of both financial auditing and value for money reports.
The Programme for Government commitments and associated reform proposals, including those relating to the Comptroller and Auditor General, focus on enhancing performance and accountability arrangements so that the public service can be empowered to be more effective and to demonstrate that well informed choices are being made as to how public money is spent.
