Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am a member of the CPP, in case the senior official is referred to the CPP for whatever sanction that may be. I am only new to this committee and I know we must protect its autonomy. Despite what other members may believe, as a Fine Gael member, I have always endeavoured to do that and use my own integrity and bona fides.

I do not want to discredit the Chairman’s character because he said he made judgments at the time but I do not accept those judgments. He should have revealed those serious allegations – and they are only allegations. We are hearing from the Chairman what the Minister for Finance said to him. We do not know what his answer to that is. Going on the Chairman’s comments, he did not offer an apology last night. It sounds like they shook hands but I did not hear the Chairman refer to an apology.

The letter from February 2017 uses the term to "withstand challenge". That does not necessarily mean a legal challenge. That could just mean withstanding probity or further scrutiny and, therefore, I do not accept that. There are serious allegations. We want to move on but I am extremely disappointed by the way this has been handled. We should have been given that information; the Minister should have an opportunity to defend himself on this.