John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Flanagan, I hope the Order of Business today goes somewhat better and that at 5.30 p.m. we will have progressed beyond it.

On a serious note, Deputy O'Dowd asked about reform of the committees and compellability of witnesses. I understand that constitutional issues arise in this regard which need to be developed and teased out. We did not really discuss this matter here and at times we do ourselves no favours, as we discuss the procedures of the House but there is a parallel committee system and many of the committees perform invaluable work. It is often stated that Ministers are not held to account but as a Minister of State I was certainly held to account and quizzed as I was developing-----

See this speech in context