David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I just wanted to make one point on this because this could happen again. If an Accounting Officer feels that he or she was treated unfairly, we could have correspondence arriving again. This is unusual and is the first such letter I have seen. I am not sure if during the lifetime of the previous Public Accounts Committee similar letters were sent. First, I do not have a difficulty with the Secretary General writing to us. If he felt that his professional reputation was being called into question then he has an absolute entitlement to say that and in fairness to him, he has put it in writing. I agree with Deputy Connolly that we should take it seriously. I have no difficulty whatsoever with robust questioning of witnesses. I can be robust myself, as can other members of this committee so I have no difficulty with that. The point I want to make is that it is the job of the Chairman to make sure that a person is treated fairly. That is why the Chairman is in the seat. If, on the day, questions are being put and a witness feels that the questions are unfair then-----