Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I have no issue with that aspect. As I said when this issue first came out and when the Chairman made a statement over the summer, I was contacted by “Morning Ireland”. I gave my opinion that it was discussed. I am not disputing that the committee on public expenditure and reform discusses it. My major issue is the timing of this. The campaign is well under way. No matter what we do or say, we cannot disguise that fact. Discussing this issue in a highly charged atmosphere will have implications for the campaign. Other candidates will take what is said here as having implications.

The Secretary General to the Government raised the fact that he does have to consult the Attorney General. This is in his letter. To say he never mentioned legal advice, is not correct; he did. We should not misquote. The core point here is that we have to be responsible in what we do. We have to look at the needs of this committee. Is this a critical and important issue for us to discuss now or are there more important issues?