PAC chairman John McGuinness criticises proposed reforms for Oireachtas committees

The chair of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee has criticised proposed reforms for Oireachtas committees amid concern changes could erode the independence of the spending watchdog.

Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness said the changes could see the committee, which monitors state spending, being taken over by government parties and stripped of its independent role.

He accused the Government of “stacking committees” with government-controlled politicians and also said the new plans to change the structure of committees were a “shambles”.