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

The Chairman is not responsible for directing my questions. I am just trying to use the time efficiently and because Mr. Carville is before the committee. I have seen correspondence that shows the Chief State Solicitor's office wrote to a third party who is taking action against the State to try to gain oversight of the IBRC liquidation, which is a matter I have raised many times here before, and in that the offer was made that the case would be withdrawn if the Department deferred to the Committee of Public Accounts. The Committee of Public Accounts, being a House committee set up under Standing Order 186, does not have its agenda set by the Department of Finance or even by the Taoiseach. I might have supported the idea of the Department deferring to the Committee of Public Accounts because it could not answer any questions previously about the liquidation because of the case taking place. However, I do have a problem with the Department offering this committee as a tool to facilitate the Department's ends, as opposed to a process determined by the committee members, without it consulting the committee. Was Mr. Carville involved in that or could he confirm that the Department was, because I have seen a letter from the Chief State Solicitor’s Office to the effect? I was just wondering if Mr. Carville had any hand in the preparation of that letter or in advising the Chief State Solicitor’s office?