John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to clarify certain matters before calling the next speaker. Given that we have exchanged correspondence on this matter, like any committee of the House or any individual, we took legal advice on the matter and we retained the box of information. I simply want to place on record that we were given the opportunity to examine the box to see whether it was of any relevance to the committee. The members decided that it was, and we authorised the clerk and the person giving legal advice to the parliamentary system to analyse what was in the box. Any personal information was redacted because that is not our business. Our business is the loss of money to the State should a system not be working properly. That is exactly what we are about in this case in analysing the information we received.

I am sure the box of information contains the same type of material as that referred to by Assistant Commissioner O'Mahoney. We set out that material yesterday at a private meeting and issued it to members, redacted and fully compliant with the Data Protection Acts. The Commissioner is quite welcome to a copy of that information.