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

We had this discussion last week with regard to the Fennelly commission and IBRC. To allay any fears, Deputy McDonald, it has nothing to do with the issue being investigated, getting to the bottom of it and dealing with it in an effective way. However, the history of tribunals and other investigations is that once they are established by the House, they appear to get out the gap and costs are never a question. When that happens, as history has shown, we cannot intervene. We are told that we cannot interfere with the direction of the tribunal. The purpose of the conversation last week, and again today, is that some restraint be put on the costs, legal fees and structure of the proposed investigation or tribunal before it sets off, so that we at least have an idea of the cost implications versus the outcomes we are trying to achieve. We have not learned from the history of this, and there appears to be a reluctance and inability to address it.

Last week, we asked Mr. Watt for the figures in respect of the Fennelly commission and the IBRC. The figures were not available that day but we were told that they could be made available to us immediately.

I understand that we still have not got those figures and that is unhelpful. The committee is right to follow the proposition outlined by Deputy Deasy in the context of protecting the taxpayers' money because it is a more sensible, prudent and constructive approach to the work of any ongoing tribunal or investigation. We should take this issue up next week with the Department of Finance but in the meantime we should write to the Departments concerned about this issue, make our views known and seek a response. Hopefully we will get an input into overseeing or examining the cost of the proposals that are being put before the Oireachtas. Is that agreed? Agreed.