Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 6 February 2014

Public Accounts Committee

Business of Committee

10:00 am

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I largely agree with the point made by Deputy Deasy. We were given very clear legal advice at that private meeting to the effect that if a transcript were to be released under any circumstances, elements of it would be required to be redacted as a result of comments that were made by both the witness and members. It would be absurd to release the transcript without at the very least seeking further legal advice. I agree that if we start publishing transcripts of private meetings, questions will arise as to why those meetings were not held in public.