Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I must come in on two points. First, I reiterate the fact that the Secretary General had agreed to come in, and I have now made a commitment to resolve this matter and ensure we find a way of moving forward on it. Second, there is also an issue of precedent here, which the Oireachtas must reflect on, which is that there are multiple committees that believe they now have a role in this issue. The way this committee is speaking about this matter this morning and the fact that it is the committee to which the Accounting Officer and I am accountable do not get away from the reality that there are other committees that also believe they have a role to play in this.

The Chairman made the assertion a moment ago that the Secretary General of my Department is playing games with him or the committee. I categorically refute that. The Secretary General and I take our responsibilities to the Chairman and to this committee exceptionally seriously, and any idea that the Secretary General is playing games with the Chairman as a Member of the Oireachtas or with this committee is not the case. On the Secretary General's behalf, I wish to make that very clear. I also reiterate what I said a few moments ago, that when the committee has indicated other dates, we will resolve this matter.