Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank the commissioners for their presentation and for the timely fashion in which they came to meet the committee. I thank them for the work they do and acknowledge they have a very difficult job.

With regard to informing the Minister of their concerns following the checks made, has the commission previously had to inform this or previous Ministers of concerns that arose from security checks that had been carried out? Mr. O'Brien outlined in his presentation that after due consideration he decided not to inform the Minister on receipt of the report. Does he now feel that he has weakened or damaged the independence of his office due to having had to make a public expression of regret for not acting in a particular fashion? Calls have been made for an independent inquiry. Mr. O'Brien said earlier that this is a matter for others to decide. Am I correct to assume that he would be happy to co-operate with any such independent inquiry?