Kildare North TD Says Comments About Public Accounts Committee Having "A Few Loopers" Are Unacceptable

Thursday, 2 June 2022 09:37

By Caoimhe Harney

The comment was made by a senior member of the Department of Health.

The head of the Department of Health's finance unit described the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as having “a few loopers” among its membership.

According to a recording obtained by the Irish Examiner, during a round-table preparatory session in the unit ahead of the department’s appearance before the committee last December, John O’Grady said, “Not for repeating, but there are a few loopers on the Public Accounts Committee, which makes it even more unpredictable."

Mr O’Grady, who routinely appears before Oireachtas committees as support staff for either his secretary general or the minister, added that “Robert is well able for them”, a reference to Robert Watt, the head of the department.

The Irish Examiner reports, PAC vice chair Catherine Murphy said Mr O’Grady’s comments revealed an unacceptable dynamic.

"It is not acceptable that any Oireachtas committee would be treated like that," she said.

“It seems the executive value themselves more than they value the democratic side.

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