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

The Comptroller and Auditor General has a report before us that is based on the same issue. The information that has been given to the committee seems to be about the same issue. It is about the loss of revenue to the State, and it is about a system failure of some kind. Therefore, on foot of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report and because of the apparent nature of the documents in the files that have been given to us, I will ask the Clerk to ensure the parliamentary legal adviser is asked specifically whether it is possible for the files to be examined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, with a view to providing an extra comment with regard to his report if the documents prove to be of importance to that report. If they are of importance to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, that means they are of importance to our work. We should explore that with the legal adviser so we are clear on what we are trying to do here. It seems to me that we are examining fresh information which has come forward and which relates to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report. Clearly, we should examine this and get back to the Garda Commissioner as soon as possible on it. There is a public interest here, as Deputy Ross has said. We should not forget that. If we can conclude all of that investigation, particularly the question around the Comptroller and Auditor General and the current report, then we will be able to try to resolve the issue. Is that agreed?