I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know it is something he has raised on many other occasions in relation to the Appropriation Bill. In terms of the wider practice, it is a Vote listed under my Department and it is also a Vote that can be used by other Government Departments in the context of the fund during the particular year. It is the only Vote operated in which the Oireachtas has waived its right to know precisely what the money has been spent on. It has always been the custom and practice not to disclose what Departments sought funds from this particular Vote. The appropriation account for the secret service, as has been said in previous years, is also audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Oireachtas votes a specific sum annually for this Vote and the Comptroller and Auditor General plays an important role with the Secretary General in terms of the overall financial control of it. There is obviously practice around why that is the case. If an Oireachtas committee wants to have an informed debate about the Vote in terms of future practice or tradition, that is obviously something the Department can have engagement on as part of the overall Appropriation Bill. We are simply seeking to continue what has been advanced in previous years. The fact that the C and AG plays an auditing role is also important in that context.

Sentiment score: 0.17

I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh. My understanding is that when auditing the secret service Vote, the Comptroller and Auditor General does not examine it in detail or comment on it for the Oireachtas. Instead, his office departs from the usual certification regarding the correctness of accounts and simply certifies that the amount shown in the account is supported by respective certification by the responsible Ministers. That is accepted as part of the wider discharging of responsibilities. The statement of internal financial control is signed by the Secretary General in my Department, who is the Accounting Officer for this particular Vote. That reflects the process and practice that have existed for a long time. As I said, my Department has a very confined role in relation to the expenditure of the Vote. It extends only as far as agreeing to the annual Estimate and then the respective spending authorities certify and ensure it is processed in line with established procedures. That is the backdrop. There is obviously wider custom of practice as regards why this is the case. It is for any Oireachtas committee to question or probe that, and I respect that.

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The wider structure of the Vote is still a matter-----

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I am informed "Acht Leithghabhála" is not the correct citation in Irish for the Bill. What has been used since 1923, which is the Short Title of the Bill, is the correct one. More generally, I defer to the Deputy's interest and knowledge of the language. When I was Minister for the Gaeltacht, he showed a interest in and passion for it, and I respect that. We obviously have a thread here, whereby this has been in consistent use for 100 years. I am told the Deputy proposed a similar amendment in 2023 and the Department engaged at the time with the Department with responsibility for the Gaeltacht on what was deemed to be the correct Title. The position I have been told, as of today is what we have said is the correct translation. I am not against having a broader engagement with the Deputy or others outside of here and with the Department of the Gaeltacht as well. If it is correct that it should be updated for the future I would be very open to that. Language evolves, as do Titles to legislation. For today, that is the position I have been given but it is something I would be happy to engage on in the context of future legislation. I respect the fact that the Deputy is more knowledgeable about it than I am. This has been checked in the past and is something that we are respectfully continuing this year. In the context of what the Deputy has said and given the ongoing work with Foras na Gaeilge, the new Uachtarán and within the language community, the Government should always be open to that engagement and taking an informed view with further inputs and I would be open to that.

Sentiment score: 0.30