Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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We had a report yesterday and we dealt with IBRC and the committee of inspection and our recommendations around that. When we had the relevant people before us from the Department of Finance, including Mr. Carville, I mentioned that the previous week a case had been taken by a debt advocate, Mr. Hall and the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation, against the Minister for failure to ensure adequate oversight in this area. In discussions at that meeting, Mr. Carville said that proper oversight was in place and that the Department would revisit the matter with us when the statement of claim to do with that legal case emerged. I understand this happened in recent weeks. Can we make contact with Mr. Carville to see if, as a committee, we can help prevent this matter being slogged out in the courts at expense to the taxpayer?

I have nothing against the right of persons to take a case but if there is an intention for them to embrace, for example, our recommendations on committees of inspection or they can outline to us that they have sufficient oversight in place, we may be able to save the State money by preventing this case proceeding. I suggest the committee would write to Mr. Carville along those lines and see what comes back before our next meeting. That might inform the discussion.