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

That is fine. I asked that question because that was what was reported in the media and that is the kind of conjecture out there. I refer to someone reportedly saying that he or she wanted this man. Mr. Fraser will forgive us, being only the Deputies and Senators that we are, for concluding, given the obscurity of the process, the coincidence that in an international process we came out with the same guy we went in with and the proximity of some people to his former position, despite their absolute integrity and great qualifications and the supreme qualifications of the successful candidate, that the whole process looks rigged.

We have a difficulty around that aspect and it is not being helped by the relevant person saying that he has no more of a role and he is not coming to our committee. The Taoiseach is tardy, at best, in responding to this issue. The only people who have come before the committee have been the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, and Mr. Fraser, for which we are very thankful. In respect of candidates applying for particular positions involving the TLAC, has Mr. Fraser ever approached somebody and managed his or her appointment through the process?