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

-----by the statement that this committee or the Comptroller and Auditor General, as it stands, do not have the remit to question IBRC on the particular sale of the company they are speaking about. However, it is the case that if the Government decided to change the legislation or to bring in specific legislation in regard to that type of inquiry, it could then be done, but not now. I was in the Chamber yesterday and was surprised by the announcement, but now that we have clarity on it, the Government can issue a further statement of intent if it wants to. As of today, however, that is our position.

Relative to that, and because it was mentioned in regard to the Department of Finance, can we now ask for the papers relative to the sale of other entities, given it was specifically stated that there was a concern by Department officials in regard to how other entities were disposed of? Presumably, it is within our remit to ask that question and to seek that information from the Department of Finance not just in regard to one transaction, but also the other transactions they were concerned about. I think that is something the committee can request. If that is the case, then I would suggest to members that the least we should do is ask for all of the information on the other entities that have been spoken about.