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

I support the proposition on the basis of the Ombudsman's report dating back to 2009 and also on the fact that, in its report of 20 October 2010, the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food decided that it was not in a position to recommend an acceptance of the Ombudsman's special report on the Houses of the Oireachtas. I hold that there was political interference in that committee, that it reached the decision firmly on political grounds - that is a fact - and that the decision needs to be revisited. It does not hold any strength in the context of the argument because of what happened politically, and I suggest that the Ombudsman's report is the direction that we should take, because that meeting is, in my opinion, simply not valid in the context of this argument, given what was attempted to be achieved by the majority on the committee at that time. I therefore support Deputy Perry's position.