John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If Dr. McLoughlin heard what I read out at the beginning of the meeting - and which is read out at every meeting - he could have saved himself making an opening statement. We are just here to examine the accounts. I do not need a lecture on the role of the Committee of Public Accounts or on the legislation surrounding it. The draft report sent to him that arose from the committee's work to date is just that, a draft report. We intend to discuss the facts, figures and overruns and to get answers. I hope that he will co-operate with us on that task because that is what we do every Thursday. We arranged today's meeting at this time to suit him and the HSE. If some of the behind-the-scenes carry-on had been left to one side then we might have had a reasonable opening to the meeting. The Government Chief Whip and others were involved and it was not a good way to start today's process. If it makes people more comfortable I will say that we are legally entitled to re-open the accounts that are under review and the chapter. Perhaps we will formally do that. I formally re-open them and I hope that Dr. McLoughlin and Mr. O'Brien are comfortable with the move. I call on Deputy Michael McCarthy to commence.