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

I advise the Minister that on 5 May we received a list provided by the Department of Finance of the various funds Ministers for Finance had met over time.

Obviously, these meetings were part of the business of the country and the Ministers for Finance had to meet them. In the future, when such meetings are being arranged, representatives of the funds, particularly those that are regulated, should be forced to come before this committee to ensure proper accountability and transparency. We have tried to get them to come here, but they have refused do so, yet they have access to officials in the Department of Finance. At some stage a balance must be struck between access and accountability.