Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Nov 1981

Vol. 330 No. 9

Nomination for Appointment of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion.

The Taoiseach

Targaim:

Go n-ainmneoidh Dáil Éireann Pádraig L. Mac Domhnaill chun a cheaptha ag an Uachtarán mar Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste.

I move:

That Dáil Éireann nominate Patrick L. McDonnell for appointment by the President to be the Comptroller and Auditor General.

My notification of 13 October 1981 to you, Sir, regarding the retirement of the Comptroller and Auditor General with effect from 1 November 1981 explains the necessity for this motion.

At the outset I am sure Members of the Dáil would wish me to express, on their behalf, our appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. Mac Gearailt, who has now retired after 46 years of service to the State, of which almost 38 were spent in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, where he held the high — and most important — constitutional office of Comptroller and Auditor General since 1973. I should like, on your behalf, to convey to Mr. Mac Gearailt our very best wishes for every happiness in his retirement.

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 the appointment is one for which provision is made in the Constitution is sufficient evidence of its importance in our administrative machinery. The onerous duties of controlling the disbursement of public moneys and ensuring that these moneys are properly spent in accordance with the wishes of this House are placed on the holder of the post, which requires a very high standard of ability, integrity and tact.

Mr. Haughey

I am sorry to interrupt the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach quite rightly is reading from a prepared text. The tradition in this House is that we should be given a copy of the prepared text. Pray continue. This is another example of the sloppy way in which the Government do their business.

The Taoiseach

I do not accept that. In a case like this it is not normal to circulate it. The Deputy is incorrect.

Mr. Gene Fitzgerald

The Deputy is absolutely correct.

Mr. Haughey

If the Taoiseach is prepared to accept my statement and apologise I will let it go, but I am not prepared to let him say that my point is not correct. The tradition is that when Ministers or the Taoiseach read from statements the Opposition are furnished with a copy of those statements.

The Taoiseach

That is the case with any lengthy statement, but it is not the case in respect of a short statement of this kind.

Mr. Fitzpatrick

(Cavan-Monaghan): There are many precedents for not circulating short statements.

The Taoiseach

Therefore the Deputy is incorrect and I suggest that he should allow the business of the House to continue.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Taoiseach is to continue without interruption.

The Taoiseach

Those Members of the House who have served on the Public Accounts Committee will have a full appreciation of the responsibilities of the office and will appreciate also that the satisfactory performance of the duties of the Comptroller and Auditor General requires a deep understanding and a thorough knowledge of the functioning of Parliament, of the work of accounting officers in Departments and of the principles that govern the control of the public purse.

I wish to assure the House that my colleagues in the Government and I gave the matter full consideration before deciding to recommend the nomination of Mr. McDonnell, who is at present Secretary and Director of Audit in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, to succeed Mr. Mac Gearailt. Mr. McDonnell has had 30 years' experience in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and for the past five years has served with entire satisfaction in the highest post in that office after that of the Comptroller and Auditor General himself. In accordance with precedent, I have given the Leader of the Opposition an advance copy of this motion and statement and I would hope that he will share the Government's views as to the suitability of Mr. McDonnell for the appointment.

Mr. Haughey

Statement?

The Taoiseach

I am satisfied that Mr. McDonnell will prove to be a worthy Comptroller and Auditor-General and, accordingly, I confidently recommend his nomination to the Dáil.

Mr. Haughey

May I ask the Taoiseach to read the last portion of his statement again, the last paragraph.

Mr. Colley

In accordance with precedent — that bit.

Mr. Haughey

The last paragraph.

The Taoiseach

In accordance with precedent, I have given the Leader of the Opposition an advance copy of this motion and statement and I would hope that he will share the Government's views as to the suitability of Mr. McDonnell for the appointment. I am satisfied that Mr. McDonnell will prove to be a worthy Comptroller and Auditor-General and, accordingly, I confidently recommend his nomination to the Dáil.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Haughey

Tá athas orm cuidiú leis an rún seo. I am very glad on behalf of Deputies on this side of the House to agree to the nomination of Patrick L. McDonnell for appointment by the President as Comptroller and Auditor-General. I join with the Taoiseach in expressing our deep and sincere gratitude to Mr. Mac Gearailt, who has retired, as the Taoiseach has pointed out, after 40 years service to the State.

This is a constitutional office and I suppose it is one of the most fundamentally important offices in the structure of our public service. It is of paramount importance that the office of Comptroller and Auditor-General should be occupied by men of total and complete integrity, ability and capacity. We have been fortunate in that that has always been the position since the foundation of the State.

In offering our good wishes on his retirement to Mr. Mac Gearailt, through him we pay tribute to all his predecessors who served the State so well in that high and difficult office. We gladly agree to the nomination of Patrick McDonnell and we wish him success in this onerous appointment.

Question put and agreed to.