Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 12 November 2015

Public Accounts Committee

2014 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 3: Office of the Attorney General
Vote 5: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Vote 6: Office of the Chief State Solicitor

10:00 am

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am not politicising it. I am simply asking questions on foot of evidence that was given here in respect of delays in cases and the conclusion of cases taken by the DPP. I want to test such evidence against the facts by posing questions to our guests. Perhaps we might circumvent it by not mentioning the name or whatever but I am anxious to discover whether the committee might test a complaint submitted to it - either in person or in writing - in a general way by asking our guests whether it is fact or fiction. It is only by doing that and obtaining a general answer that we will understand whether there is an issue for the individual in question or for our guests' organisations. Proceeding in the way I have outlined would also bring closure, so to speak, to any issue raised at this level by a particular individual. That is what I am trying to achieve here. I am not trying to politicise the process.