I, with eleven others, was appointed by the Dáil to act as a Committee of Public Accounts for this year. Last year a Committee was set up, and it was unfortunate that for a time there was difficulty in getting a quorum. In consequence, an appeal was made for a reduction in the quorum, and it was decided to reduce it from five to four. A similar quorum obtains this year, four out of twelve. I was appointed by the Committee to act as its Chairman, and I think it my duty to report to the Dáil that on two occasions within the past fortnight meetings have been abortive, by virtue of the fact that no quorum was present for half-an-hour after the time announced for the meeting. The effect of not having a quorum is, first, that the Committee cannot continue its work, second, that the time of high officials of State is wasted, inasmuch as they are bound to be present at the meetings of the Committee. I am making that report as Chairman of the Committee. I should like to say a word, as a Deputy, in comment upon the statement of the Chairman of the Committee.
The functions of Deputies of this House do not seem to have been readily understood by many Deputies. I think those duties involve, as first preference, attendance on Committees, particularly on the Committee of Public Accounts. The duty of attending Committees should be looked upon as of quite primary importance. The Committee of Public Accounts is, one might say, complementary, is a necessary complement, to the voting of grants of money by the Dáil. Unless we are going to confirm the work of the Committee on Finance—that is to say, the whole House sitting as a Committee—and to make sure that the requirements of the law have been satisfied in the spending of public moneys, then our duty as Deputies is not fulfilled. The House would, no doubt, find it impracticable to do this work, and therefore there devolves upon a Committee the duty of examining the Appropriation Accounts and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.
If it is impossible to obtain the attendance of a Committee to do the work that is necessary for the Dáil as the guardian of the public purse and the custodian of public taxation—if a Committee cannot be found which will deem it its duty to do that work conscientiously and carefully—then the only alternative would be the impossible one of having all those matters discussed in the Dáil. I think it is necessary to make this comment, that unless Deputies of all parties recognise the responsibilities attaching to membership of the House, which involves an obligation to attend Committees, particularly important Committees such as this, then membership of the House is going to lose in honour, because it is devoid of responsibility.
