David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Ó Foghlú is missing the point entirely. With respect, he is avoiding the point I am putting to him. We are not going to dictate to Dr. Thorn how he carries out his review. Mr. Ó Foghlú, as Accounting Officer for the Department, needs to understand that we have a statutory responsibility to probe systems, processes and procedural failures. That is our role. That is our function regardless of whether there are parallel investigations or examination processes ongoing. Mr. Ó Foghlú needs to understand that a person he has appointed is attempting, perhaps not deliberately - and it may be unintentional - to subvert the work of the Committee of Public Accounts. Teachta McDonald put questions to Mr. Ashe that he is not answering. That is not because of legal advice he received but as a result of the fact that Dr. Thorn told him in conversation - I imagine during a phone call - that he should not answer. He said the same to Mr. Ruttle. I cannot understand that and I find it deeply troubling. I want Mr. Ó Foghlú to understand from where we are coming.