|
|
|
|
MIONTUAIRISC NA FIANAISE(Minutes of Evidence)NOTE.Dotted lines in the Minutes of Evidence following indicate that evidence was being taken on the subject matter of the Interim Report. Such evidence is printed on pages 7 to 25. Dé Céadaoin 26 Iúil 1967Wednesday 26th July 1967The Committee met at 11 a.m.
Mr. E. F. Suttle (Comptroller and Auditor General) called.ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN1. Deputy P. J. Burke.—As a senior Deputy, I have great pleasure in proposing that Deputy Jones take the Chair. He is an excellent Chairman and he has done his work well in previous Committees. I have been with him for two years on the Council of Europe. I must say he is a very loyal colleague, very helpful on all occasions, and I hope that bit of charm and goodwill which has existed between us will remain as the years pass. Deputy Crowley.—I have great pleasure in seconding Deputy Jones for Chairman. I do not think we could have a more conscientious Chairman of this Committee and I look forward to serving with him again for the next 12 months. Deputy Healy.—We all agree with the sentiments expressed by both speakers. It is traditional, of course, in the House that a Member of the Opposition is Chairman, and we could not have a better man than the one proposed. He has done his work excellently and has certainly shown great patience with all of us. I suppose the Dáil would regard it as a vote of confidence that so many Members of the outgoing Committee have been nominated again. If that confidence is justified, it is due in no small measure to the guidance and help of Deputy Jones. Deputy Molloy.—I should like to add my support to the sentiments expressed. I think I stated on one occasion here when Deputy Jones was nominated for re-election that he proved a great help to us new Deputies who came on this Committee shortly after our election. I think my statement on that occasion has been well borne out. I only hope that when dealing with the Accounts which will be coming before us this year, the “tiger” we read about in the papers recently will not lose any of its roar! Deputy Cluskey.—I have not had the pleasure of serving under Deputy Jones on this Committee but I have had experience, while working with him on other Committees, of both his patience and courtesy and I am very pleased to have Deputy Jones chosen for Chairman this year. Question: “That Deputy Jones be Chairman of the Committee”—put and agreed to. DEPUTY JONES took the chair. 2. Chairman.—I am very grateful to the proposer, seconder and other speakers for their very kind remarks. This is the seventh occasion on which I have been Chairman. I appreciate very much what has been said here this morning, as I have appreciated working with this Committee. I did say I felt this was one of the best Committees with which I have worked; I certainly mean that. This Committee has done a lot of good work and I am particularly glad to find we have a lot of the younger Members taking an interest in the affairs of Public Accounts. They render a service to the House. I am sure the Parties, in nominating their Members to come back here again, were expressing their confidence in them and in the kind of work they have been doing. This Committee is active as a Committee of the House, without any reference whatsoever to the Parties from which we are drawn. We try to act here at all times as representing the Dáil as a whole. We are very much obliged to our officials who work with us here and to the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Suttle, who makes the work of this Committee very easy indeed. I feel that during the coming year we will be able to get through the work expeditiously and, in so far as I am concerned in the Chair, I shall try at all times to be helpful to the Members. In return. I would just ask for your cooperation and patience in bearing with me. I thank you sincerely again for the honour conferred on me and I hope, before we start to work, you will all have a very pleasant holiday. The Committee adjourned. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
