John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Also among the correspondence is an interaction between TLAC, the Secretary General of the Department and Mr. Fraser about the booklet. The booklet is being discussed in this correspondence. There is also an interaction between the then Secretary General and someone other than the Minister urging that steps be taken to fill the vacancy.

My point is that it all looks very cosy from the outside and it is not as transparent as it ought to be. That is my opinion, but it is also the opinion of many members of the public who have spoken to me about this issue and conveyed that opinion to me.

As regards the handling of this by the Government, I take it from what Mr. Fraser has told the committee that all of the decision-making around this issue falls into the lap of the Minister, Deputy McGrath. He decided on the process-----