Vol. 473 No. 5
39 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education her views on the number of confidential settlements being made by her Department in view of the consequent restrictions that such settlements place on the ability of the Committee of Public Accounts to perform its function. [22605/96]
The sanction of the Minister for Finance is required for the amount of payment involved in any settlement arising from litigation. The small number of payments treated as confidential has no material effect on the ability of the Committee of Public Accounts to perform its functions. Details of all settlements, irrespective of agreements to treat them as confidential, are and will continue to be available to the Comptroller and Auditor General.
