28 Ean 2011, 14:43
The findings of a report published today by the Oireachtas Constitution Committee further emphasises the need to give the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) more extensive powers to enable the flagship Oireachtas Committee conduct more effective inquiries.
The report also noted that the Irish Parliament has much less power to hold in-depth investigations than its international equivalents.
Committee Chairman, Bernard Allen TD said;
“While overall I am proud of the work carried out by this PAC we were continually frustrated by instances of witnesses being less than fully co-operative and supplying incomplete documentation. This diminished our capacity to unearth wrongdoing and highlight waste.
This Committee has been calling for enhanced powers of inquiry for Oireachtas Committees for a long time and the conclusions of this extensive report backs up our demands. At times we found ourselves constrained by the findings of the Abbeylara Judgement1 limiting our power to expose bad practice or unlawful activity.
I believe that by granting the PAC and Oireachtas Committees additional powers it would negate the need for expensive inquiries. This would ultimately mean less waste and better value for tax payers’ money.
The report calls for a Constitutional referendum on the matter and I would urge the next Government, to pursue this action at an early stage.”
ENDS
Daniel English
Oireachtas Communications Unit
01 618 4484
087 6944926
1.Abbeylara Judgement: The Supreme Court in the Abbeylara case found that the Oireachtas did not have an inherent power to conduct inquiries.
Committee Membership:
Bernard Allen TD, Fine Gael ,(Chairman)
Darragh O'Brien TD , Fianna Fáil, (Vice Chairman)
Michael D'Arcy TD, Fine Gael
Michael McGrath TD, Fianna Fáil
Sean Fleming TD , Fianna Fáil
Brendan Kenneally TD, Fianna Fáil
Niall Collins TD, Fianna Fáil
Olwyn Enright TD, Fine Gael
Pat Rabbitte TD, Labour Party
Jim O'Keeffe TD, Fine Gael
Róisín Shortall TD , Labour Party ,
Ned O'Keeffe TD, Fianna Fáil