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

There is just one other item then under the work programme. We had a meeting yesterday - a briefing session - which went on for two and a half hours. I thank the members who were present and who listened to what was said. It was a shocking story of events and abuse of power by the State in relation to a number of individuals and companies. The need for investigation is quite clear. In the light of what we heard yesterday, I will ask the clerk to do a full report of what was presented to us. He should attach the appropriate paperwork collected by the individuals and businesses concerned because it relates to a huge waste of public money and an abuse of governance and power. We can then circulate that to members with a view to having a hearing specific to the expenditure of public moneys in relation to those matters. We are due to meet with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 18 June. We could perhaps use that as a timeline and bring forward the report prior to that. The committee can agree the report and then we will be armed with the information should we wish to raise it at the meeting.