Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

Unlike the Pope, however, the Ombudsman is not infallible. I am delighted she is to appear before the joint committee because I will be there to ask questions.

Did the Office of the Ombudsman really understand what it was doing in this case? Did it differentiate between the lost at sea scheme and the decommissioning scheme? The lost at sea scheme had nothing to do with money, even though Joe Higgins, MEP, tried to give the impression that it did. No one was getting any money under that scheme, the aim of which was to replace lost tonnage.

Did the Ombudsman interface properly and adequately with the Department when she was preparing the report? There is evidence to suggest she did not. I would like to hear that issue being teased out also.

I have the height of respect for the Ombudsman, but was she right to sensationalise the matter by making a speech to the media? To a certain extent, she has is on dangerous ground in creating a possible rift between her role and that of the Oireachtas. We are both trying to do our best for the country. Her role is vital and respected, but so is ours. That is where the real debate lies.