Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In my experience of dealing with CEOs of State agencies, and I say this with great fondness, they are well able to articulate and advocate for their agencies when they come before Oireachtas committee. They should do so and it is entirely appropriate. To be clear, this is not a wording created by me or the Department to endeavour to be in any way restrictive. It is simply seen by us and the drafters as a standard provision that we are replicating. If any other Minister from any other Department were here bringing forward legislation I am pretty certain he or she would also have this standard provision. It is not a provision of the Government. It is also a provision of the Opposition. Presumably the Committee of Public Accounts can change its own Standing Orders when it wants to do so in consultation with the Houses of the Oireachtas. This is the provision that all members of the PAC believe should be in place because it is read out at the beginning of each meeting when the witnesses are seated.