David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Exactly, which is even more bizarre when one considers the comments from Richard Thorn. It is bizarre for him to advise the committee what we should or should not do and what questions we should or should not ask. He does not have to watch the proceedings at all if he is in any way of the mind that he might be influenced by what is said. It is bizarre that he is referred to at all. He is not an investigator acting on behalf of the State and nor is he a judge. He is simply someone appointed to do a job. I have a difficulty with this situation in which the same person seems to be appointed to do a number of these examinations. At what point is such a person not independent, if he or she is on a retainer to do this type of work? Leaving that aside, the notion that the Secretary General would seek in any way to limit the questions we would put to witnesses or limit our ability to do our job is outrageous.