Public Accounts Committee (Ireland)

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) (strictly the Committee of Public Accounts) (Irish: An Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí) is a standing Committee of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish Parliament. It oversees government expenditures to ensure they are effective and honest. It is responsible for examining reports of Comptroller and Auditor General on Departmental expenditure and certain other accounts. It also considers the Comptroller and Auditor General's reports of economy, efficiency, effectiveness evaluation systems, procedures and practices. The PAC has a key role to play in ensuring accountability and transparency in the way Government agencies allocate, spend and manage their finances and in guaranteeing that the taxpayer receives value for money for every euro spent.[1] By the nature of its role as the public spending watchdog, the Committee of Public Accounts is one of the most powerful Oireachtas Committees.[2]

Overview

It is established under Standing Order 163 of Dáil Éireann which requires it to be set up as a standing committee after each general election. The Committee is constituted so as to be impartially representative of the Dáil and consists of thirteen members. A member of the Government or a Minister of State can not be a member of the PAC. It is normally chaired by a member of the opposition.

Membership

As of 12 January 2015, the members of the committee are as follows:[3]

Member Party Constituency
John McGuinness (Chair) Fianna Fáil Carlow–Kilkenny
Áine Collins Fine Gael Cork North-West
Paul J. Connaughton Fine Gael Galway East
Joe Costello Labour Party Dublin Central
John Deasy Fine Gael Waterford
Robert Dowds Labour Party Dublin Mid-West
Seán Fleming Fianna Fáil Laois–Offaly
Mary Lou McDonald Sinn Féin Dublin Central
Gabrielle McFadden Fine Gael Longford–Westmeath
Derek Nolan Labour Party Galway West
Patrick O'Donovan Fine Gael Limerick
John Perry Fine Gael Sligo–North Leitrim
Shane Ross Independent politician Dublin South

Changes

Occasionally, the Dáil orders changes to be made in terms of membership of select committees. These changes are shown below.

Date Outgoing Member
& Party
Constituency New Member
& Party
Constituency Source
11 July 2014 Gerald Nash Labour Party Louth Joe Costello Labour Party Dublin Central

Chairmen of the Public Accounts Committee

It is customary for a member of the opposition party to chair the committee.

Year Chairman Party
2002-2005 Michael Noonan Fine Gael
2005-2011 Bernard Allen Fine Gael
2011–present John McGuinness Fianna Fáil

See also

References

  1. "Role of the Public Accounts Committee". Oireachtas website. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  2. "Committee of Public Accounts". Oiteachtas website. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  3. "Public Accounts Committee - Membership". Oireachtas website. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
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