THE DÁIL'S value-for-money watchdog will today take the unusual step of asking the Government to desist from requesting the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to carry out inquiries into State agencies.
The Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) is finalising a letter to Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan questioning the appropriateness of Government Ministers requesting that comptroller John Buckley carry out investigations.
The letter arose from concerns expressed by PAC chairman Bernard Allen (FG) and other committee members following a number of such requests in recent months. The letter attracted cross-party support from committee members, including those who are members of the Coalition partners.
The main issue revolves around the difficulty posed for the comptroller's independent role by a request from a Minister. Committee members, including Mr Allen, are understood to be of the view that Mr Buckley should be completely independent in choosing which body or agency he should examine.
The latest such request was made eight days ago by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, who asked Mr Buckley to launch a special investigation into Fás expenditure since 2000.
Several members of the PAC are of the view that the fresh investigation ordered by Ms Coughlan is in conflict with the committee's own deliberations on several projects undertaken by the State training agency.
At the time, a spokesman for Ms Coughlan, who is Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said the inquiry arose following a number of controversies in recent months.
A delegation from Fás will appear before the PAC today in relation to a number of issues relating to the organisation's apparent breach of procurement rules.
The agency will be asked to outline issues raised in the comptroller's annual report where value for money was not achieved, and where a possibly inappropriate intervention was made in relation to the procurement of services.
Mr Allen said it was vital the State receive the best value for money from Fás. "The committee is concerned by some of the findings of the CAG's report and the meeting will afford us an opportunity to ascertain if Fás operated in a professional and efficient manner."
Today's meeting is the first of a possible three.
