Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Before I invite Mr. Molloy to make an opening statement on behalf on the Central Bank, I note it was the expectation of the committee that Mr. Gabriel Makhlouf, the Governor of the Central Bank, would attend this meeting as the accountable person in respect of the matters the committee wishes to examine. I understand we received a letter from Mr. Makhlouf, which was sent on Monday, explaining that he has an official engagement in Finland, but the Central Bank was given notice on 18 January. An official email of invitation was sent to the Governor on 20 January. I also express our disappointment that none of the three deputy governors are in attendance. The Governor's letter states that given the Central Bank's strong commitment to openness and accountability and to working co-operatively with the Houses of the Oireachtas, if the committee has further follow-up questions that it would like him to address, he is happy to make myself available to attend. I ask the Central Bank representatives to relay our disappointment that neither the Governor or any of the three deputy governors are present, and that we may take the Governor up on the offer made at the end of his letter dated last Monday, 20 February.

I do not wish to be rude to Mr. Molloy, but his opening statement is quite long. Members have it in front of them. He is entitled to five minutes and I ask him to comply with that.