Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Chairman's statement. The Committee of Public Accounts is one of the most important and effective of the parliamentary committees. The Chairman's actions have impacted on the work of the committee, especially given his privileged position as the Chair. The public see accountability as a moral construct which is only achieved when public officials serve with the commitment to do the right thing. As Deputy Carroll MacNeill has said, an important step will be for the Chairman to clarify his position in Dáil Éireann.

Time and again, we have seen Sinn Féin members not taking responsibility for their actions. We had Deputy John Brady a fortnight ago and the Chairman last weekend. This is not a singular or once-off event. The Chairman's party leader also needs to make a statement on this matter. It is seen by the Irish public as a strategic ploy to inflate tensions. We all have a responsibility in the decade of commemorations to commemorate the past in a respectful manner. That is an important step. Political representatives, irrespective of their political and ideological differences, must lead responsibly. It is apparent that we need a statement on this matter and we must also continue the important work of this committee in an appropriate manner.