Michael Noonan's leadership of the main Oireachtas investigatory committee has been sharply criticised by Government backbenchers.
Senior Cabinet members, including Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, are understood to have been annoyed by the Public Accounts Committee's criticisms of the Department of the Environment's e-voting machines.
Since its creation in 1923, a senior Opposition politician has always chaired the Public Accounts Committee, and members have never taken a vote during its history. Cork South Central Fianna Fáil TD John Dennehy yesterday said the Public Accounts Committee had "stretched to the limits" its powers under the chairmanship of Mr Noonan, the former Fine Gael leader.
"I certainly would be concerned that we would try to become the government at any stage. We have to realise that."
Fianna Fáil Dublin South Central TD SeáArdagh said Government backbenchers are finding it "difficult to do their duty" at the committee when spending problems highlighted by the PAC are "used against the Government".
However, Mr Ardagh disagreed with Mr Cowen, who had complained about the PAC's decision to debate in public his replies to them. "He suggested that we should be doing this in private. I disagree. We are public representatives and this should be done in full, open public forum," Mr Ardagh added.
Mr Noonan said the Minister for Finance had accepted 90 per cent of the recommendations made by the committee.
"The issue arises where the recommendations require legislation. That is where there are very long delays," he said.
In a detailed reply to criticisms expressed earlier by the PAC, Mr Cowen said the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is considering changes to the bail laws.
The Minister said the Government is considering a pilot scheme to outsource the collection of all fines, rather than leaving this work in the hands of the Garda.
Mr Cowen also said the Health Service Executive has made progress in improving records kept on the State's medical card system.
Currently, 95 per cent of the records have a PPS number. In October 2004, 190,000 entries did not have a PPS number, while this number had fallen to 66,000 in July 2005.
