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

The members can take a view on that if they wish. My explanation for this is that we received the two letters, the legal advisers referred back to us and told us they are more than well equipped to respond to both of the letters and that they have made a decision that the response can be made in-house. What one can draw from that is that they are not conflicted. They are very independent in respect of the advice that they give. You have raised the letter itself and, as you say, it is for the members to decide how to respond to it. I am suggesting that the response should be that they go ahead and provide the clerk with the legal advice to enable that response to be representative of the opinion of the Committee of Public Accounts and also to put forward a robust case for compellability.