Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Two things need to happen. This issue is born out of frustration. We have been dealing with it for nearly three weeks and we still do not have an acceptance of any of the dates. Some of the dates suggested by the committee to Mr. Watt have passed. I think we should go into private session to agree a number of dates on which we could facilitate Mr. Watt coming before the committee and then proceed with the Estimates on the basis that this matter will be resolved. We should not have to wait three weeks before we even know if the Secretary General is coming before the committee. There has been a breakthrough but it is conditional and there is still no acceptance of any of the dates suggested. We have suggested numerous dates to the Secretary General and he still has not accepted any one of them. This raises concern for me. I suggest that we go into private session for a brief time and agree a number of dates on which the committee can facilitate Mr. Watt and that that be relayed to Mr. Watt and also to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, who has agreed to try to resolve this issue and that we then proceed to deal with the Estimates.