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

Our advice is that this matter is rightfully before the committee, which is working on the Comptroller and Auditor General's report. Therefore, members have an obligation to go through that report and to ask the questions they see as appropriate. As I see it, from his opening remarks and exchanges up to now, Deputy Nolan can proceed and ask questions but he must bear in mind the constraints mentioned by Mr. Purcell in his opening remarks. The only footnote to that is that under Standing Order 163, we would be obliged to go into private session should it be requested. However, the fact is that we are now in public session and Deputy Nolan can ask the questions arising from the chapter if he observes the constraints that Mr. Purcell outlined at the beginning. He said that Ms Creedon was under certain constraints but there were certain questions she would answer and I think we should proceed on that basis.