Brendan Ryan (Labour)

The chief executive and the chairman of Dublin Airport Authority have made it clear that they disagree with the Government's policy of making Cork and Shannon Airports free of debt. If they came before an Oireachtas committee, they would be precluded from expressing their dissent, yet they can outline their opinions in a press conference with RTE. Given the Minister's understanding of the need for precise language, it is extraordinary that he juxtaposed civil and public servants. These are not civil servants because if they were, a special clause on superannuation would not be needed in the Bill. They are public servants who are supposed to run a commercial operation, subject to generous public funding. It is nonsense to suggest that the sky will fall in if they express their opinion.

The chief executive of Aer Lingus demanded the privatisation of the company long before the Government got around to making a decision on the issue. He made his opinion known to Oireachtas committees. We will not silence the CEOs of bodies such as this but they will not be allowed to air their views before the Committee of Public Accounts. That is ironic because a CEO is not prohibited from expressing an opinion on the merits of Government policy before another Oireachtas committee.

Until the Government began to fall apart about six months ago, I expected logic from it. A prohibition on dealings with the Committee of Public Accounts without similar prohibitions in respect of other Oireachtas committees suggests a lack of thought. Clauses such as this are stuck into Bills because somebody thinks it a good idea to do so. I have no more to say except that I suspect the Minister would agree it is rubbish.