Politics

Hey big spenders: political disquiet at large department spending without Dáil scrutiny

The state is spending a record €91 billion this year, but who is following the money?

Government departments have justified money transfers by pointing out that they were authorised by Michael McGrath, the former Minister for Public Expenditure

The secretary general of the Department of Health was involved in a testy exchange last week, one that was symbolic of a growing concern among TDs that the tight financial controls of the past have been severely weakened since the pandemic.

Robert Watt was challenged at the Dáil’s public accounts committee (PAC) about how he and his officials had transferred €521 million of savings in one part of the health budget to pay for Covid-19 ...