Mr. Brian Purcell:

Briefly, let me say that I am not hiding behind anything. I am expressing my genuine concern that, if I answer questions and give witness in public to issues that are covered by the terms of reference of the Fennelly commission, I will potentially be undermining or prejudicing the work of that commission. In addition, I would be unfair on myself, in the sense that I am giving evidence in public unlike other witnesses who will appear before that commission. I will appear before it as well, as the committee has seen from the letter that Mr. Justice Fennelly sent to me. It is unfair on me, although that is not my primary concern. Rather, it is the potential to undermine or prejudice the work of the commission. It is nothing else. In my discussion with Deputy Mac Lochlainn, while he might not have intended to do so, it sounded like he was saying that, by trying to be helpful on the Guerin report, I was effectively undermining my own position in respect of Fennelly when it was-----