Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1971 > Committee of Public Accounts > Final Report - Northern Ireland Relief Expenditure

IMEACHTAI AN CHOISTE

Proceedings of the Committee

Déardaoin, 4 Feabhra, 1971.

Thursday, 4 February, 1971.

1. The Committee met at 11 a.m.

2. Members Present.

The following members were present:—

Deputy Patrick Hogan (in the Chair), Deputies Barrett, Briscoe, R. Burke, E. Collins, FitzGerald, H. Gibbons, Keating, MacSharry, Nolan, Treacy and Tunney.

3. Mr. E. F. Suttle (Comptroller and Auditor General) was in attendance in an advisory capacity, accompanied by Mr. S. Mac Gearailt.

4. Ordered: that the following statement be made in the Dáil by the Chairman:—

“Arising from statements made in the Dáil yesterday the Committee of Public Accounts has asked me with your indulgence to make the following statement:—

(1) The Dáil in referring to the Committee the examination of certain expenditure instructed the Committee to furnish a separate report on it as soon as possible.

(2) In order to comply with this instruction the Committee decided to proceed with the examination of witnesses with all expedition. In this connection, it was brought to their attention that the official reporting staff available was not adequate to report concurrent sittings of the Dáil and Seanad and of the Committee. In the circumstances the Committee conveyed to the House authorities their wish that arrangements should be made to provide adequate staff to enable the Committee to proceed with their business even if necessary by recruitment from outside the country, and that any necessary sanction for this course be sought from the Minister for Finance.

(3) The Committee understand that the Minister gave sanction for the employment of such staff as were necessary and that when it was not found possible to recruit the necessary staff in Ireland, arrangements were made at the instance of the Committee to secure the staff from a London agency.

(4) The Committee itself has no powers in relation to the engagement or conditions of employment of staff, including matters relating to the Official Secrets Act. These are matters, they understand, for the House authorities and for the Minister for Finance. The concern of the Committee is that they should be enabled to comply with the instructions of Dáil Éireann.”

5. Ordered: that questions to witnesses be confined to asking what the sums of money from the Grant-in-Aid were spent on, and who authorised or assented to such expenditure.

6. The Committee went into public session.

7. Witnesses Examined.

Mr. Albert Luykx was sworn and examined (accompanied by Mr. GoreGrimes, solicitor).

8. Mr. Luykx withdrew.

9. Adjournment.

The Committee adjourned at 2.15 p.m. until 11 a.m. on Tuesday next.