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

It has given us all the information it has but, as the Deputy noted on the last day, there is other information which was being given to us under the 2013 Act and which was wrongly quoted. Powers of compellability would give us protection and the right to have that piece of information and any other information like that for our use. Therefore, powers of compellability give us the full power necessary to ask for documents and papers to be presented to us and for individuals to come before us relevant to our investigation. That case is set out clearly by the clerk and we have to legally prove it. This is being done. Once it is done, the matter proceeds to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. It has all its regulations and protocols in place for these inquiries. It has just concluded in this regard, I understand. It may have to seek external legal advice on the submission we make to it. Once that is done, it will then be in a position to make a decision on our request for powers of compellability.

I see no reason, however, that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges could not meet quickly, get its legal advice and make an early decision on this because it is clear that our only intent, despite what has been written, is to pursue how the €95 million in public money was spent.