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

I do not believe that the coverage of this issue reflected in any way negatively on this committee. It certainly stalled us in terms of our work, and we see that here this morning, and I regret that. I can only express a regret that we have not been able to conduct our work without the hindrance of this coverage but I cannot account for the coverage. I apologised to the members earlier for not being able to inform them because I do not know what is next but having gone through what I have gone through from 21 April up to now, I cannot imagine that there is much left.

To add to the response, efforts were made by the paper to contact various people locally in my constituency to ask of them if there was anything they believed should be investigated by the committee. I think I am quoting them accurately. In fact, during the course of the last two to three days questions were also asked locally about my wife's activities outside of my own political activities. I do know and what would ensue from that - I cannot say, as much as any Member of this House could answer that question in relation to their own circumstances or what might be asked of them.

I agree with the Vice Chairman that the Committee of Public Accounts is bigger than any individual. I am the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts and therefore I am the one who is in the spotlight here, and that is why I am anxious to answer as best I can.