Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with virtually everything Deputy Simon Harris said, but I would go further and say we want to see Mr. Conlon. He has said he is not coming. I do think, therefore, that there is any point in asking him again to do so. We should go straight for compellability powers and look to him to answer questions. There are many questions about him to be answered, into which I will not go, and we should go to the Committee of Procedure and Privileges to ask for these powers. When we seek them, perhaps he might decide to come under the threat of their use, but we should go through with it and take that step because the Committee of Public Accounts cannot be treated in that way, as otherwise it would set a very bad precedent.

The entire board should resign. Deputy Simon Harris has said representatives of the Mater Hospital should come. Last night they issued a statement which goes some way towards explaining what was happening. It does not explain it totally, but it goes some way towards explaining it. However, we need clarity and to talk to them. If the representatives of the HSE are coming next week and they are going to look at the Mater Hospital also, it would be appropriate to have representatives of the hospital here with them at the same time.