Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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If that is the Chairman's ruling, I will of course respect it. However, to clarify, the contact with An Garda Síochána to which I refer is in respect of publication of the Devine report. Mr. O'Brien misled the committee on that score. If the Chairman's ruling is as he has outlined, that is his ruling. However, let us be absolutely honest about this: nobody should hide behind fair procedure or technicalities in the answering of these questions. Mr. O'Brien and his team are well aware of the debate that has raged around these issues, well aware that the terms of reference are to be considered and, most likely, decided today and well aware, no doubt, from media coverage, that serious question marks have arisen regarding the evidence he has given to the committee. Therefore, having had the pleasure of Mr. O'Brien's attendance at the committee on many occasions before, I have no doubt but that he would have anticipated this issue raising its head and that he has answers to these matters. If the Chairman is insistent that he be given seven days, so be it. I would like him to come back in person and then deal with the questions once we have his written responses.