Mr. Tony O'Brien:

If the Deputy looks at the totality of that meeting rather than just one clip, he will see there was a strong narrative throughout the course of the meeting that I should there and then be publishing the reports. At many times I sought to explain - the Chairman may have been present - that I would find it much easier if I were in a position to give the committee the reports. I would not have to be seeking to explain things that I knew and the committee did not. At that point in time, there was a live, in-writing, repeated-many-times objection from An Garda Síochána in response to advices from it which had been sought at my initiation. There was no question at that point in time that I could publish them. The comments I made were contemporaneous and relevant to the dates in question. I have to insist that this is the case.