Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have no idea what will happen in that regard.

Apologies have been received from Deputy Pat Deering. The first item on the agenda is the minutes of the meetings of 7 December and 14 December 2017. Are they agreed? Agreed.

The next item is matters arising out of the minutes and I have two such matters to raise. At the meeting of 7 December, the committee requested that the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection provide detailed information on eight points listed in the minutes. Six weeks later, we have not received that information. As regards the minutes of 14 December, the committee listed two points on which the Department of Finance was to provide information but, five weeks later, we have not received it. I acknowledge that the intervening period included the Christmas break. I propose that both Secretaries General will be listed to appear in person on this day two weeks to explain why they did not provide the information. That is now being organised. If the committee receives the information by next Thursday, they will not have to come in person but if it is not here for the meeting next Thursday, both Secretaries General will be here the following week. I have checked the previous meeting at the end of November and we have received the reply from the Revenue Commissioners but we are not starting the year by allowing six, seven or eight weeks for a reply to be furnished. When a witness is here in public session and is asked for information, we expect it back within a week, or perhaps ten days in some cases. However, six weeks is not acceptable and those Secretaries General will be here on this day two weeks if we do not receive complete replies, which will be a signal to all Accounting Officers that we want a prompt response to requests for information.