Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We should do it and get it over with. I am sure we are equally proud of all our Presidents. I do have a problem with Mr. Fraser's letter. He quotes the Constitution in it and, frankly, he is wrong. He suggested that this is unconstitutional. At no time are we seeking to question the powers or functions of any President or the execution of same, nor would we. The Chairman quite rightly pointed out that any such questions would be offside. I agree that is appropriate. However, the tone of the letter did bother me. It then goes on to say that, if we do this, it would in some way undermine the impartiality of the Civil Service. I resent that suggestion because I do not see how that would remotely be the case. In fact, my interpretation is the converse of that. Here we have a senior civil servant seeking to direct the operations of the committee. I have a real problem with that. We should go ahead. We should do it. We should keep the questioning very much to the question of where the money goes and what happens to it. It is a matter of public interest. When people see the value for money they are getting - indeed the 10% surrender and coming in under budget is an example to all Departments - it might even encourage more people to engage in the democratic opportunity that is before us in October. I thank Mr. Fraser for the advice but it is flawed and incorrect. Under no circumstances are we seeking to undermine his impartiality or that of other civil servants in the political process. I cannot say the same for this letter in terms of how it looks to me. It seems he is seeking to influence our particular view. In fairness to everybody on the committee, at no time in my few years on this committee have I felt that anybody took his or her political jersey through that door.