Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 21 March 2013

Public Accounts Committee

2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor
Vote 19 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 15: Lease of Accommodation for a Probation Service Project

12:00 pm

Ms Eileen Creedon:

I would have to say that the provisions in the legislation do not differentiate between public and private session and if I were in private practice, under no circumstances would I discuss strategy or facts of a case that is in live litigation. There are risks there for me and I am not protected in the legislation. For the expediency of this case and for the expediency of being co-operative in this case, these sections do not allow me to discuss these facts whether in public or private session as the legislation stands and I would not be prepared to do that at the moment. I would be as frank as I can be within constraints, if I can be. Maybe there would be a certain ease in it in terms of going on to administration issues that come out of chapter 15, but you have to appreciate the difficulties I am in.