Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In accordance with an agreement made with committee members yesterday, we have set aside the time until 11.45 a.m. to deal with media reports relating to the Chairman, Deputy John McGuinness. This must be done now in order to ensure these issues do not deflect from the integrity and importance of the work the committee is mandated to do. That is the key issue for us as members of the committee.

The media reports deal with a number of matters to do with the conduct of the Chairman when he was Minister of State at the then Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment between June 2007 and April 2009. Deputy Shane Ross has requested that members be allowed, for the purpose of examining this issue, to question the Chairman. The sole issue for members is the need to protect the committee and ensure its work is not hindered by constant newspaper revelations in regard to the Chairman.