SF's Farrell 'doesn't see why' she will not be PAC chair

Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell has said she "doesn't see why" she would not become chair of the Public Accounts Committee.

The Galway West TD was proposed by Sinn Féin after former PAC chair Brian Stanley resigned from the party last weekend.

Mr Stanley is no longer a member of the Dáil's financial watchdog and his position on the committee was given to former party colleague Matt Carthy.

The changing of committee roles is typically straightforward, but several TDs have said that they will not cooperate with a new Sinn Féin PAC chairperson in light of the current controversies engulfing the party.

The Committee of Selection agreed unanimously that the proposal from Sinn Féin to replace Mr Stanley as PAC chair will go to the Dáil next week for a vote without debate.

Speaking to RTÉ's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, Ms Farrell said: "For me, it’s about getting in there and getting the work done.

"We have seen huge wastage of public money in the last number of weeks, we look at the bike shelter, the security hut, the huge cost overruns in terms of the National Children’s Hospital and that’s just the things we know about.

"The Public Accounts Committee plays an extraordinarily important role and it’s really important that we do the work that’s set out for us. It's really crucially important that it’s functioning and functioning correctly."

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that as the lead party of opposition, it is for Sinn Féin to nominate the Chairperson of the PAC.

"I will be nominating Mairéad Farrell TD to the role. Mairéad brings a considerable wealth of knowledge on budgetary matters.

"She has previously served as party spokesperson on Public Expenditure and subsequently as party spokesperson for Further and Higher Education. She has a Masters in Finance and a Degree in Economics and worked in finance, all of which will further assist her in fulfilling the role.

"Conscious of the continued waste of public money under Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in government, Mairéad has just this week introduced the Transparency and Social Value in Public Procurement Bill to improve the functioning of the public procurement system. It is an issue she has been proactive on during her time in the Dáil," she said.