Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not know if we are dancing on the head of a pin. The issue is whether a record is kept of the meeting. If it is held in audio form, one can just as easily argue that the witness will expose himself to some kind of legal problem as would be the case if it was held in written form. It would do no harm to get the opinion of the witness presenting, but I hear what the clerk is saying regarding his legal advice.

My question is slightly different. Regardless of whether there will be a transcript or an audio recording, can others besides the clerk and committee members seek access to the audio recording or compel the committee to hand it over? For instance, would ministerial colleagues have access to that audio recording? If A. N. Other third party wished to have access to it, who would make the call? Would the committee be informed? More to the point, would the witness be informed?