John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a question or comment and he may deal with it however he wishes. I will make a point at the end of it. I will give my opinion and will then ask him a question. I have mentioned the London issue, which he needs to clarify quickly. That would be helpful. I revert to the "Tonight with Vincent Browne" programme, at the end of which I thought the Chairman got quite direct and combative with regard to the reasons this could be happening. He mentioned Dublin Docklands and the banking inquiry as reasons we are sitting here today and that these questions are being asked. The reality is someone is leaking to the media. Freedom of information, FOI, requests are being made and stories are appearing in that newspaper. The Chairman has been around politics for a long time and has a combative style. Moreover, it is fair to state he has made political enemies. As to whether I am surprised this is happening, considering everything that has happened over the past two years with regard to the Committee of Public Accounts and where we are as a country, as well as the exchanges that have appeared in the media over the past couple of years, I am not surprised.

I will separate the leaking and the FOI requests with regard to what has been driving this issue over the last couple of weeks. That is important and I refer to the Chairman's style and the manner in which he has handled the committee. As to whether he has gone too far, in the opinion of some Government members and people within the Government, I think their answer to that question is "Yes". As to whether I think it is debatable, with regard to his position as Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, I think it is. Equally, I think the opportunity this has given to members of the Government party to use this as an opportunity to get rid of him is also debatable. I think it is being used as an opportunity to remove him as Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts. Consequently, as to whether I am surprised that this is occurring, based on what has happened and on the Chairman's style over the past couple of years, I am not. That is the Chairman's opinion and in my opinion, he said so and made this clear on the "Tonight with Vincent Browne" programme. However, there are reasons for everything.