Alex White (Labour)

Senator Ross is also not a member. It is an important exercise. There was much debate about this issue a few months ago and I recall the Taoiseach being anxious to say he would be available to come to the committee to answer questions. However, because of the way the terms of reference have been drawn up, they do not suggest the Taoiseach will be going before the committee or will be involved in dealing with issues that were within his remit when Minister for Finance. I very much hope he will appear before it. Lest I am accused of what Senator MacSharry used to suggest, namely, of wanting to have a guillotine on St. Stephen's Green, that is not what I am interested in. However, in so far as Ministers made decisions which might be open to question and criticism and were put under pressure to make them, this should be analysed and debated. I raised the issue in the House previously in the context of a recent statement by the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, who is never mentioned on the other side of the House any more, which is probably understandable.