The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) (formally the Committee of Public Accounts) () 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 the 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 every euro spent. By the nature of its role as the public spending watchdog, the Committee of Public Accounts is one of the most powerful Oireachtas Committees.

Overview PAC was 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 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 Membership of the committee for the 34th Dáil is as follows:

Member Party Constituency John Brady (Cathaoirleach) Sinn Féin Wicklow Paul McAuliffe (Leas-Cathaoirleach) Fianna Fáil Dublin North-West Catherine Ardagh Fianna Fáil Dublin South-Central Cathy Bennett Sinn Féin Cavan–Monaghan Grace Boland Fine Gael Dublin Fingal West Joanna Byrne Sinn Féin Louth Albert Dolan Fianna Fáil Galway East Aidan Farrelly Social Democrats Kildare North James Geoghegan Fine Gael Dublin Bay South Eoghan Kenny Labour Cork North-Central Séamus McGrath Fianna Fáil Cork South-Central Paul Murphy PBP–Solidarity Dublin South-West Joe Neville Fine Gael Kildare North

Cathaoirligh of the Public Accounts Committee It is customary for a member of the largest opposition party to chair the committee. Year Chairperson Party 1987–1993 Gay Mitchell Fine Gael 1993–1995 Jim Mitchell Fine Gael 1995–1997 Denis Foley Fianna Fáil 1997–2001 Jim Mitchell Fine Gael 2001–2002 Michael Finucane Fine Gael 2002–2004 John Perry Fine Gael 2004–2007 Michael Noonan Fine Gael 2007–2011 Bernard Allen Fine Gael 2011–2016 John McGuinness Fianna Fáil 2016–2020 Seán Fleming Fianna Fáil 2020–2024 Brian Stanley Sinn Féin 2024–2025 Mairéad Farrell Sinn Féin 2025–present John Brady Sinn Féin

See also Public accounts committee

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