Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As a new member of the committee, I ask for the Chairman's assistance. Normally, when we have witnesses before us they are from agencies of the State and we question them in a fairly robust way to try to expose things we believe need to be exposed. Mr. McMahon is here before us not in that capacity and, as a result, I imagine that our questioning will not be in that same vein. Unfortunately, we have rebuttals from a number of State bodies and two member organisations which have different views. We are in the uncomfortable situation whereby we almost have to present the rebuttal that has been put before us and I am not sure any of us want to be in the business of putting forward the case of State agencies. That is for them to do. Will the Chairman clarify if a number of those agencies will be before the committee or is this the only opportunity we will have to discuss this matter? I am uncomfortable with having that rebuttal in writing but not having people here to allow me question them.