Mr. Robert Watt:

It is not appropriate for me to get into an argument with the Deputy about this. It is not my role.

There are many issues in regard to Dáil procedures and operations over the last eight weeks that I am very unhappy with and, frankly, very disappointed with but I am not here to complain about that. I have received over 30 pieces of correspondence from four committees. I have been criticised unfairly, on many occasions by many Deputies, for non-attendance at committees, which is untrue. My colleague, Mr. Paul Quinn, who is an excellent official who discharges his functions diligently on behalf of the State, has been unfairly criticised. I am not going to make a big fuss about it or get into an argument about it. I am here to talk about the issues for which I am responsible. I am happy to answer questions that are relevant to the discharge of my functions as well as I can. If there are issues that I cannot deal with today, in the normal course of events, I will correspond with the Chairman, if that is what members wish.