Mr. Brian Purcell:

As I said to Deputy Niall Collins, when the Minister arrived in the Department, in the circumstances in which she had arrived - it would not be the norm - I completely understand why in her first interview when she was asked that question, she was not in a position to make that judgment. If the roles were reversed, I would be in exactly the same position, but what the Deputy is asking me is different. He is talking about a particular letter. I have said that it is covered in the terms of reference and that I am trying my best to be as helpful as I possibly can be in very difficult circumstances - even in a set of circumstances in which there was no commission of investigation.

In fact if there was not a commission of investigation, as I said in my opening remarks, it would probably be easier in many ways just to simply answer the questions. However, it is not that I am answering the questions, or, as the Deputy believes, not answering the questions, because of some desire to obstruct the work of the committee - far from it. I think I have gone some considerable distance despite the concerns I expressed at the time in relation to the Guerin report. I have tried to answer the questions as openly and as fully as I possibly can in the circumstances. However, I have said what I have to say. I have told the committee my views in relation to matters covered by Mr. Justice Fennelly's commission of investigation and I am not sure what more I can add to that.