Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

For Mr. Gallagher's benefit, and probably the benefit of viewers, in relation to that particular issue, documents coming to the Committee of Public Accounts are not necessarily published. I can think of one quite recent one in relation to the HSE internal audit into Console. That entire document was presented to the committee. We decided to note it and not to publish it because it was not our document, and not one syllable ever leaked. Others, outside of the Oireachtas, who had copies of that document chose to put it into the media.

I would ask - this is a comment across the board for all Accounting Officers - if documents are being sent here in a redacted manner in future that Accounting Officers consult with the committee secretariat regarding the use of the document. I fully understand there was a belief that we would be publish it and I can understand that concern, but that need not always be the case. We can make arrangements and we have successfully done that and protected the identity of those included, and specifically chose not to publish a report. That is a general comment to all Accounting Officers.