David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Ashe is an accountable person, not an accountable officer, which means he accounts to the Committee of Public Accounts, which he is not doing today. He is offering as a defence a refusal to answer questions because Dr. Thorn, who was simply appointed by the Department to carry out an examination, gave him advice. That is not acceptable. I need guidance from the Chair as to how we should proceed. Before I get that guidance, I will ask Mr. Ashe if Dr. Thorn advised him not to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts.