Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests. I apologise for missing the first half hour or so of the meeting. I was addressing a Topical Issue matter in the Dáil Chamber. I have read the submissions and I am catching up now. I will ask Mr. Hughes a question about a story that was carried in the The Business Postover the weekend. It relates somewhat to the point Mr. McDonnell was making when he referred to the difference between the state of health of multinationals and foreign direct investment companies versus indigenous industry. Is it common for a request to be made that notes are not taken at important meetings? Was that a bit of a once-off or would that be par for the course? Would Mr. Hughes, in the normal course of his work, be in receipt of such requests? I found it quite unusual but perhaps I am a bit naive and that is, in fact, normal procedure and practice. Will Mr. Hughes outline that for us?