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

All right. It will be some time between now and October then. From the committee's perspective, the sooner the better in that regard. In Mr. O'Driscoll's response to issues raised at our meeting of 17 January, he confirmed with regard to surveillance the use of firms for approximately €18,000 in one case and €10,500 in another. He went on to state "It is not possible from the information available to determine if these payments relate to the surveillance of prison staff." He further states that he had sent the invoices to the Inspector of Prisons, and I presume that is to assist with her investigation. Why would he not have asked the surveillance companies in question to inform the answer to us and why would he not have contacted the head of operations of the Irish Prison Service, who is the line authority for the approval of such expenditure?