Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some of the points made by the Deputy are very valid. However, my understanding from the discussion I had with the officials prior to the meeting is that the reason for private session is not in any way to hide or remove something that is being discussed but to enable a very full briefing to be supplied to members on each proposal and allowing for the various aspects of who has privilege. As Members of the Oireachtas, obviously we enjoy such privilege. There is no reason why anything that was said in private session cannot be restated in public session as a comment. It is just a way of facilitating business. If this committee would like to look at doing something differently, I would be open to that. Initially, it was just a way of allowing the briefing we received on policy issues to be given to the committee directly. It was for facilitation rather than any other purpose. I do not know whether anyone else wants to come in on that.