David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Reportedly advised. He certainly wrote to the committee indirectly given that the Secretary General of the Department wrote to us and made reference to advice that Dr. Thorn was giving us as well. I am concerned about that. I stand over what I said at the previous meeting. Without repeating any of that, we should at least write to Dr. Thorn asking for an explanation. That might give us scope to consider whether we should take this matter further. I was concerned that if this were to become the precedent, it would hamper our ability to do our job. There can be parallel examinations. The role of the Committee of Public Accounts is to examine systems, processes and procedures. We are not in the business of telling the Department what it should do in its examinations. We can offer opinions, but how the Department puts its processes in place is its responsibility. If any member of the committee had advised a member of the ETB not to co-operate with Dr. Thorn pending the witness' appearance before us, that would have been inappropriate. Why, therefore, is it okay for Dr. Thorn to advise members of the ETB not to co-operate with this committee? I still have a difficulty with that and I was not satisfied with the responses we received from the Secretary General. At the very least, we should write to Dr. Thorn asking for an explanation and his rationale. There may be one and I would like to hear it.