John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will go into private session to deal with the matter. Before doing so, I would like to address a remark made by Deputy Deasy because it is on the public record. I am not playing games on this issue and neither am I playing politics with it. I want to be absolutely clear about that. What Deputy Deasy may not understand or have knowledge of is that in regard to the date for the proposed meeting the clerk has made numerous attempts by telephone and by email to arrange a date. I have worked with the clerk to try to get agreement from Mr. Watt. Mr. Watt wrote in response to our invitation, not to us, but to Deputy Fleming and he put the onus on Deputy Fleming to talk to the other chairpersons. When pressed about our invitation, Mr. Watt responded conditionally and suggested that I talk to the other chairpersons. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has been clear in his response this morning that he is accountable to this committee.