asked the Minister for Finance whether he has considered the final report of the Committee of Public Accounts (Order of the Dáil of 1st December, 1970); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
143.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Accounts Committee Report.
142.
asked the Minister for Finance if, following the publication of the final report of the Committee of Public Accounts (Order of the Dáil of 1st December, 1970), he is satisfied that the actions of several civil servants named in the report were not in contravention or breach of their job descriptions and responsibilities; and, if not, what guarantees can be given that any such contraventions will not occur in the future.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.
The Report of the Committee of Public Accounts on the Northern Ireland Grant-in-Aid is still under examination.
Is it intended to give Government time to have a discussion on the report?
This might be more appropriate to Question No. 145.
I do not think it is.
When the examination is completed the Government and the Minister will consider acting on Recommendation 81 (b) of the report.
The Committee of Public Accounts was specially appointed to report to Dáil Éireann on the £100,000. It has done so and surely the House is entitled to have a full debate on the report.
The paragraph to which I referred reads:
The Committee recommends that when the Department of Finance have brought to a conclusion the steps being taken by it to recover as much as possible of moneys paid to an arms dealer in West Germany (paragraph 50), a full report thereon should be made to the Dáil by the Minister for Finance.
I am well aware of that recommendation. I am discussing the report in full and not that aspect of it. It is an important report not only from the political point of view but also from the public accountability point of view. The House should have a debate on this and I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to give an assurance that the House will have Government time to discuss the report.
I have been told by the Minister that he is not prepared to make a statement on this matter until such time as the examination has been completed.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what type of investigation is going on at present in connection with the misappropriation of funds? He said it is still under investigation. Could we be told the form of the investigation?
The report has 12 parts. Three headings are: Summary of Conclusions re Expenditure, Observations on Matters Arising From This Examination, and Recommendations. This is not being pushed under the carpet. The matter will probably come before the House.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary give us any idea when the investigations will be completed?
No.
144.
asked the Minister for Finance the total cost incurred by the Committee of Public Accounts (Order of the Dáil of 1st December, 1970).
The total cost of the Public Accounts Committee inquiry into the Northern Relief funds is £25,345.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary indicate how much of that money was paid to Dáil Deputies who served on that inquiry?
I have only got a figure for members' travelling expenses of £452.
145.
asked the Minister for Finance if the Government are continuing to ascertain the whereabouts and actual expenditure of that portion of the funds for Northern Relief which are believed to have been misappropriated; and the steps being taken for the recovery of any such funds.
When the steps being taken by my Department to recover the moneys have concluded I shall consider the recommendation at paragraph 81 (b) of the Report of the Committee of Public Accounts.